Tag Archives: anxiety

Sapna’s story

In Asian culture, girls are expected to become mums and not complain if they do begin to
struggle. That’s not right or fair.

Sapna’s story (Bristol)

After I had my first child, I felt very anxious around him, and I didn’t want to be left alone with him. Feelings of inadequacy filled my head, and I also felt that everyone was judging me as a mum.

With my second child, all the difficult emotions I experienced with my son resurfaced. It really knocked me off my stride and I constantly feared I would get things wrong as a mother.

No one should be left behind

Thankfully, where I lived, I could access a lot of helpful services for free. I received CBT [cognitive behavioural therapy] for my anxiety and attended a lot of community-based workshops for mums, such as mindful art activities and befriending schemes. I also received a lot of parenting support through my local health visitor service and children’s centre. I know I am one of the luckier ones and that some people living in other areas don’t receive anywhere near the help they need. This postcode lottery of support needs to end now. No mum should be left behind when they’re struggling with maternal mental health issues.

We need to break the stigma

I hope that sharing my story shows that things can get better when you receive the right support. But the situation must improve. Pregnant women and new mums need easy access to specialist support such as talking therapies and parent and infant therapy groups. As an Asian woman, I also hope my story helps to break the stigma that surrounds maternal mental health support in ethnic minority communities. In Asian culture, girls are expected to become mums and not complain if they do begin to struggle. That’s not right or fair.


Sapna works as a peer supporter and administrator at MMHA member organisation Mothers for Mothers.

If the content of this story causes you to think of anything that has happened to you or someone you know and you feel upset, worried or uncomfortable, please see our support page for a list of services that may be able to help.

 

Chrissy’s story

I felt pressure as a Black mum that I’d be judged and not listened to. I was scared my children would be taken away.

Chrissy’s story (Kent)

I was filled with anxiety after the birth of my second child. I was in tears all the time but reluctant to tell anyone. I felt pressure as a Black mum that I’d be judged and not listened to and scared my children would be taken away if I spoke up.   

I finally told my GP but my experience with them felt like a tick-box exercise. I filled in one questionnaire and was prescribed antidepressants. No other support was offered. Yet I know I would have greatly benefited from the support of other mothers and talking therapies.

Free mental health sessions

After my first child, I set up the Motivational Mums Club. But it was my experiences after the birth of my second child that led to me investing more time and energy into it. Today, it offers mothers and birthing people free mental health sessions with fully qualified psychologists.

Break the stigma

My goal is to raise awareness of the mental health issues pregnant women and new mums face and to work with community leaders and organisations to help them get the support they need.

As a Black woman, I’m also passionate about breaking the stigma that surrounds maternal mental health in ethnic minority communities. Women need to feel safe to speak about their mental health without the fear of being judged. 

 


In addition to the Motivational Mums Club, Chrissy also established Young Positive Minds. It provides a range of interactive workshops and resources to give children and teenagers the tools they need to become resilient and deal with the mental health challenges they encounter. 

If the content of this story causes you to think of anything that has happened to you or someone you know and you feel upset, worried or uncomfortable, please see our support page for a list of services that may be able to help.