- Conference
- 2024 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 10 October 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Maternal mental health is a crucial aspect of a woman’s well-being and can impact on the early experiences of bonding with their child(ren) and their own experience of motherhood. According to ‘The Motherhood Group’, Black maternal mental health should be a priority focus across government, health and social care policy development and wider society.
Black mothers face unique challenges because of factors such as, racial discrimination, historical trauma, socio-economic disparities, and limited access to culturally appropriate and competent maternal mental care.
This results in Black mothers experiencing higher rates of post-partum depression and anxiety disorders, The Motherhood group believe that ‘every mother, including Black Mums deserve the right to have access to adequate support, care, safe spaces and for their voices to be heard’.
However, despite the importance of this issue, government has rejected calls to set a target and strategy to end racial disparities experienced by Black mothers in maternal deaths.
This Conference believes that the advocating for policy change to address the disparities in Black maternal health support for Black women must continue.
This conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
1)Work across national, regional, and self-organised group union media platforms, to raise awareness of Black maternal mental health issues.
2. Through the Labour Link Committee, lobby the government to address the much-needed policy changes that are required to address the disparities in Black maternal health support.
3. Explore working with organisations and groups such as ‘The Motherhood Group’ and access educational resources that can be shared across branches and regions to inform about the importance of Black maternal mental health and highlight the support services and networks that are available.