"Mother Tongue, Motherhood, and Mental Health"
On Wednesday 27 September, the West London Tri-Borough Perinatal Mental Health Team showcased a collection of short films titled "Mother Tongue, Motherhood, and Mental Health." The films explore maternal mental health experiences by women from different minoritised communities across West London, spoken in their own languages. The screening took place at the Ealing Project and was attended by the stars of the film, their families, and NHS professionals and partners.
Mental ill-health in the perinatal period (pregnancy and the two years after birth) is relatively unspoken about due to stigma and social pressure on new mums. These films aim to break the silence surrounding maternal mental health and highlight mothers from various cultural backgrounds who have found recovery with support from the West London Perinatal Mental Health Service.
Dr Jamila Carey, a Consultant Psychiatrist from the West London Perinatal Service, emphasised the event's significance: "In the journey of becoming a mother, we often hear only about the happy moments. But it's important to acknowledge the tough times too. Many women feel like they can't talk about their struggles, fearing it makes them seem weak or ungrateful. The 'Mother Tongue' film project started because we wanted to give a voice to those in underserved communities. It's a way for them to share their experiences of seeking professional help directly with others who might be going through it too.”
“We also wanted to highlight that we seek to provide a high quality of service to women from all backgrounds; regardless of language, ability, or culture.”