End the stigma, prioritise maternal mental health now

Maternal health in Ghana has long been discussed in terms of safe deliveries, skilled birth attendance and access to antenatal care.

 While these remain critical, a quieter crisis continues to unfold, one that affects the minds and emotional well-being of women before, during and after childbirth.

At a stakeholder meeting held in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Kennedy T.C. Brightson of the Ghana Health Service drew attention to an uncomfortable truth: societal attitudes, deeply rooted cultural practices and misplaced religious expectations are worsening maternal mental health challenges in the country.

The Ghanaian Times considers this a matter that demands urgent national attention

Too often, women bear the burden of blame when there are delays in childbirth.

In many homes and communities, the pressure to conceive begins almost immediately after marriage.

 When expectations are not met, the woman is subjected to scrutiny, stigma and, in some cases, emotional abuse. This is not only unfair; it is harmful.

Pregnancy itself comes with significant physical and psychological demands.

When these are compounded by societal pressure and lack of support, the result can be anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions that frequently go undiagnosed and untreated.

Even more worrying is the tendency to misinterpret mental health conditions as spiritual problems.

While faith remains an important pillar in Ghanaian society, it must not replace appropriate medical care.

As Dr Brightson rightly cautioned, “misdirected prayer” should not be allowed to take the place of professional treatment.

 Women in distress need care, not confinement or condemnation.

The Ghanaian Times is particularly concerned about the stigma that continues to surround mental health, especially among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, adolescent girls and mothers living with or at risk of HIV and tuberculosis.

Fear of discrimination often prevents many from seeking the help they desperately need.

This is why the call to integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) into maternal and child health, as well as HIV and TB services, is both timely and necessary.

Healthcare must be holistic. A healthy mother is not only one who survives childbirth but one who is mentally and emotionally well.

However, integration alone will not be enough.

There must be sustained public education to challenge harmful cultural norms and reshape societal attitudes.

Families, religious leaders and community influencers must be actively engaged in these conversations.

 Premarital counselling, as suggested, presents an important opportunity to introduce discussions on maternal mental health early.

Equally important is investment in the mental health workforce.

Ghana cannot address this challenge without trained professionals who are equipped to provide the needed care. Mental health must no longer remain the underfunded and overlooked sector of the health system.

The Ghanaian Times also calls on policymakers to back these discussions with concrete action.

Policies must be implemented, resources allocated and systems strengthened to ensure that no woman is left to struggle in silence.

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