Posted By: Mimi Wilsher
4th November 2025
2 minute read
On Tuesday 4 November 2025, parliamentarians, health leaders, and community advocates came together to call for improved and equitable perinatal mental health care for Black mothers and families across the UK.
The Black Maternal Mental Health reception was hosted by The Motherhood Group, in partnership with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) and Centre for Mental Health.
The event formed part of the Black Maternal Mental Health Partnership Project; a collaboration to address racial inequalities and improve access to culturally competent, trauma-informed mental health care before, during and after pregnancy. Work made possible thanks to the generosity of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Speakers included:
Together, they spoke to Baroness Merron and other parliamentarians, setting out the scale and urgency of the issue: Black women are twice as likely to be hospitalised with perinatal mental illness and more than twice as likely to die during or after pregnancy compared with white women (MBRRACE-UK 2025). Attendees heard how systemic racism, stigma and inequitable access to services continue to shape outcomes for Black mothers and babies.
The event provided space for parliamentarians and local leaders to:
As lead partner, The Motherhood Group brings deep expertise and lived experience to the project. Having supported over 18,000 Black mothers across the UK, The Motherhood Group has established itself as the leading organisation dedicated to community engagement, peer support, and advocacy. Its initiatives include:
Centre for Mental Health is a respected research charity taking the lead in challenging policies, systems and society, so that everyone can have better mental health. It does this by building research evidence to create fairer mental health policy. Poverty, injustice and discrimination put some people at a much higher risk of poor mental health – but less likely to receive the right support. By developing mental health research, economic analysis and policy ideas, Centre for Mental Health are equipping services and decision makers to meet people’s needs and reduce mental health inequalities. The work is driving forward sustainable policy change, to pursue equality, social justice and good mental health for all.
Learn moreThe Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is an award-winning charity and network of over 160 member organisations, parents, and clinicians dedicated to ensuring all families impacted by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care and support.
Learn more
Launched on Tuesday 23 September during the fifth annual Black Maternal Mental Health Week, founded and led by The Motherhood Group
"The Motherhood Group is leading a new research project with support from Centre for Mental Health and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) to better understand and advocate for the mental health needs of Black mothers across the UK...."
In the UK, significant disparities exist in maternal health outcomes between Black women and birthing people compared to their white counterparts, particularly concerning mental health and access to care.
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