By Damiete Braide
In the quiet moments after childbirth, when the world celebrates a new life, many mothers face a silent battle with their mental health. For some, this battle manifests as postpartum depression (PPD), characterized by overwhelming sadness, guilt, and detachment from their newborns. For others, it escalates into postpartum psychosis, a condition so severe that it can shatter their grip on reality.
Against this backdrop, CNN International’s ‘M/Other’ has emerged as a powerful call to action. Premiering at the Afropolis festival in Lagos, the 40-minute production uses theatre and dance to tell the untold stories of mothers grappling with mental health challenges.
The performance delves into the isolation and stigma these women face. By transforming pain into art, ‘M/Other’ does more than entertain; it compels its audience to confront uncomfortable truths.
The performance was followed by a panel discussion featuring experts who highlighted the urgency of addressing maternal mental health.
Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, emphasized that cultural pressures often silence mothers, forcing them to suppress their struggles for fear of being judged. She reminded the audience that caring for mothers’ mental health is not solely their responsibility. “Simple acts of care,” she said, “could save the lives of millions of mothers and their newborns.”
An obstetrician and gynecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Bosede Afolabi, echoed these sentiments. While healthcare systems focus on physical postpartum complications like bleeding or infections, psychological issues often go unnoticed. Afolabi pointed to a lack of training among medical professionals as a significant barrier to recognizing and treating postpartum disorders. She called for policy reforms to integrate maternal mental health into Nigeria’s healthcare priorities, emphasizing that no woman’s life should be lost to neglect.
Managing Editor of CNN’s gender desk and leader of the As Equals initiative, Eliza Anyangwe, underscored the media’s role in amplifying maternal mental health. She noted that even though maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, discussions about the psychological struggles of motherhood are rare.
Anyangwe stressed that societal pressures—often from husbands, in-laws, and communities—compound the isolation mothers feel.
In Nigeria, this isolation often stems from deeply entrenched cultural norms that equate motherhood with sacrifice and selflessness. Women are expected to shoulder the burdens of care-giving without complaint, and seeking help is frequently viewed as a sign of weakness. This stigma is further exacerbated by inadequate support systems, both within families and healthcare infrastructures.
Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, spoke about the stigma that forces women to endure their suffering in silence. “Addressing this issue is vital,” she said, “to ensure that no woman feels isolated or unsupported during such a critical time in her life.” Ihekweazu called for open conversations about maternal mental health to dismantle harmful stereotypes and empower women to seek help.
At its core, ‘M/Other’ seeks to bridge the gap between awareness and action. By presenting the raw emotional realities of maternal mental health through art, the production creates a safe space for dialogue. It urges audiences to rethink societal norms and advocate for change.
The performance’s impact is amplified by its timing. In Nigeria, maternal mental health has long been neglected in public policy and healthcare. Experts agree that addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach, from training medical personnel to recognize symptoms of postpartum disorders to creating community-based support networks.
As the lights dimmed on ‘M/Other’, the audience was left with more than just a performance—they carried with them a call to action. The stories shared on stage were not merely acts of artistic expression but urgent reminders of the lives at stake.
Dr. Coker, Prof. Afolabi, and other panelists concluded with a shared vision: a future where no mother has to face postpartum mental illness alone. Achieving this vision will require dismantling stigma, reforming healthcare policies, and fostering an environment where women feel empowered to seek help.
