The Multiti Foundation in collaboration with MentaPulse Africa is advocating for mental health awareness, in efforts to decrease the rise in Postpartum Depression (PPD) among mothers.
A Volunteer Director at Multiti Foundation, Godwin Doe, emphasised the need to discuss issues of PPD, which he cites as an intermediate stage in the process of depression.
He also cited some symptoms of PPD which include the lack of appetite, loss of interest, isolation and over-bleeding which may lead to death, among others.
“It is very timely. This discussion has been in silos for a long time and bringing out this discussion on a platform like Citi TV is very important. Looking at social gatherings like baby showers, instead of just partying and merry-making, we need to have strategic conversations like this. That is a way of creating awareness. That is a way of educating people to prepare mentally and also find ways to support them.
“And also, to the men, we also need to be very strategic and participatory in this activity. Because, at the end of the day, we are those that are supposed to support our wives and our children through this process.”
He entreated mothers to involve themselves in physical activities such as exercises and social groups, to provide them with the needed support from loved ones.
Programmes Officer at MentaPulse Africa, Phoebe Addy suggested to employers to establish mental health policies in the working space.
According to her, this will help aid the newborn mothers from quitting their jobs due to challenges accompanied with motherhood.
“Policies need to be put in place in workplaces to ensure that mothers are able to speak out first of all when they are having issues. The fear is that, if you give birth and come back to work, you even begin to complain, you are of the fear that, you are not up to the work. You are likely to be replaced. So here is the case where even if you are going through a lot of issues, they just keep quiet.
“They suppress it and just try to endure, just because they want to keep their jobs. And I think the employers are the ones who have to put policies that allow the workplace to be a safe space to talk about whatever is bothering you. We need to have specialists,” Phoebe Addy opined.