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For example, postpartum psychosis
is widely believed to be as a result of
witchcraft and not a mental health
problem. Another myth is that
mental suffering does not affect the
pregnancy, the fetus, or the newborn
baby. However, stress has
been associated with worse gestational
and neonatal outcomes.
Furthermore, some people believe
that pregnancy is a period of
well-being and it protects the expecting
mother from psychological
unease but in reality, it is estimated
that about 20% of expecting mothers
have a psychiatric disorder
during pregnancy or in the postnatal
period.
In a bid to promote maternal
mental health in Zimbabwe, the
government enacted the Mental
Health Act (Chapter 15:12) which is
under the administration of the
Ministry of Health and Child Care.
In terms of this Act every citizen
should get 30 minutes of health
education, including mental health
information before they receive any
physical medical attention. Other
stakeholders play a complimentary
role to the government efforts,
for instance the Society for Pre and
Post Natal Services (SPANS) which
is conducting massive maternal
mental health literacy/education
sessions. In the same vein, SPANS
introduced the International Conference
on Maternal Mental Health
in Africa (ICAMMHA) so as to
provide a platform to share ideas on
Maternal Mental Health. SPANS is
also offering a Diploma in Systematic
Family Therapy and Development
Counselling in Maternal,
Paternal and Child Mental Health
which is centred on the promotion
of sound mental health for all
because there is no health without
mental health.
Efforts to promote maternal mental
health are slowly yielding results
according to SPANS as they witness
people interested to be part of the
mental health movement. However,
successful implementation of
mental health care services will take
time due to lack of funding and the
gap in mental health professionals.
Additionally, a lot still needs to be
done in terms of awareness raising
so as to dislodge established norms
and beliefs of the greater society,
towards maternal mental health and
mental health in general. The
coming out of survivors of maternal
mental distress, mental health problems
and mental disorder/illnesses
to share their experiences could
provide invaluable lessons on the
consequences of maternal mental
illnesses to communities. Finally,
governments should allocate specific
resources in adequate amounts
towards mental health care and
maternal mental health care to facilitate
availability for all.
In short take care of people pre and
post-natal as their mental health will
be at stake. Taking a look back in
the nineteen nighties, our culture
used to have support system to help
relieve pressure from the person
who just gave birth. However, this
21st century is each man for himself
but God for us all. Mental Balance
urges people to love and support
each other always.
Mr. Linos Muvhu is the Secretary
and Chief Talent Team Leader for
SPANS and African Ambassador
International Father’s Mental
Health Day (IFMHD)
Ruwa Clinic Goromonzi District
WhatsApp or call +263715521063
or 0773825288
Pictures by Pixelgraphy Zimbabwe
Feb 2022 Issue 1 Mental Balance 29