Voices That Must Be Heard

When we talk about maternal health, we often picture glowing mothers and joyful new beginnings. Yet for many Black women, the reality is very different. Behind closed doors, exhaustion mixes with anxiety, depression, or even trauma. And far too often, these voices go unheard.

From 23–29 September, Black Maternal Mental Health Week shines a light on this silence. It is a reminder that while motherhood can bring love and renewal, it can also expose deep cracks in how society listens to, supports and values Black women.

“I was told to be strong.”

For generations, Black women have been told to carry on, to endure, to keep the family together no matter the cost. This stereotype of unshakable strength hides the truth: Black mothers struggle too. They experience postnatal depression, anxiety, and trauma just like anyone else—but stigma often keeps them from speaking out.

And when they do? Too often, they are not believed. Pain is minimised. Symptoms are dismissed. Help is delayed.

The impact is not small. It can cost lives.

The Systemic Gap

Statistics reveal what lived experience already shows: Black women face higher risks during pregnancy and after birth. In the UK, Black mothers are still several times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. When mental health is added to the picture, the disparity widens even further.

It is not biology. It is bias.
It is not chance. It is systemic failure.

Why This Matters to Anah

At Anah Project, many of the women we support are mothers—or are becoming mothers while navigating the trauma of abuse. For them, maternal mental health cannot be separated from safety, dignity, and healing.

Imagine facing pregnancy while escaping violence. Imagine trying to bond with your baby while carrying unaddressed trauma. Imagine wanting help but fearing the judgement of your community or the indifference of services.

This is why culturally sensitive support matters. Without it, the cycle of silence continues.

Beyond Awareness

Black Maternal Mental Health Week cannot end with posts and panels. Change has to follow. That change looks like:

• Healthcare systems that listen and believe Black mothers.
• Communities that treat mental health with compassion, not shame.
• Services that understand cultural context and provide safe, non-judgemental support.

Awareness is the spark. Action is the fire.

Carrying the Voices Forward

Every story shared this week is more than personal—it is political. It is a call to build a world where Black women’s maternal mental health is not treated as an afterthought but as a priority.

At Anah Project, we will keep listening. We will keep amplifying. We will keep reminding women that they are not alone.

Because every mother deserves to be heard. And every child deserves to be welcomed into a world where their mother’s life and well-being truly matter.