From bump to breakdown

“STOP the foolishness, you just tired.” It’s a phrase that too many Jamaican mothers hear when they try to speak up about the emotional toll of motherhood. In a culture that glorifies strength and toughness, women are often expected to smile through their suffering, even when that suffering is deep, silent, and dangerous.

But as Dr Trischan Laing-Case, medical officer at Bellevue Hospital, makes clear, “Motherhood is beautiful, but it is not always blissful. And when mental health issues go untreated, the consequences can be life-altering for both mother and child.”

It’s time we break the silence.

While many mothers experience what’s commonly referred to as “baby blues”, such as mood swings, tears, or irritability in the first two weeks after giving birth, Dr Laing-Case cautions that more serious conditions often go undetected.

“Baby blues usually resolve within 10 to 14 days. But if sadness persists, or you see loss of interest, insomnia, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, that’s no longer baby blues. That could be postpartum depression or anxiety.”

Worldwide, up to 13 per cent of new mothers experience mental disorders, most commonly postpartum depression. Other conditions include maternal anxiety, substance use disorders, and in rare cases, peripartum psychosis, a severe disorder that can lead to hallucinations and delusions.

The consequences of ignoring maternal mental health are both immediate and long-term.

“In the short term, mothers may struggle to bond with their babies. They may turn to substances or experience suicidal thoughts. For the baby, that can mean poor bonding, low birth weight, and even developmental delays,” Dr Laing-Case explains. Over time, the damage deepens: increased risk of suicide for the mother, strained relationships and loss of support systems, impaired emotional and cognitive development in children, and a greater likelihood of those children developing mental disorders later in life. These aren’t just statistics. They’re family-breaking realities.

According to Dr Laing-Case, stigma is one of the biggest barriers to care.

“Jamaican women are expected to be strong. So when a mother feels detached, sad, or anxious, she fears being labelled mad or unfit. She worries someone might take her baby away. That fear, and the guilt of not feeling joy, keeps many silent.”

This cultural silence is amplified by misinformation. “Some people don’t know what postpartum depression looks like. They’ll say, ‘I’m just a little sad’ six months after giving birth. By then, it’s no longer baby blues. It’s something more,” she adds.

Families, partners, and communities all play a role in supporting maternal mental health. But support must go beyond words.

“Support is dad waking up with the baby so mom can rest. It’s family bringing meals. It’s church members noticing she hasn’t been around and checking in. It’s recognising something is off and helping her get care.”

Dr Laing-Case also emphasises that support systems must be trained and proactive.

“We need to screen for maternal mental health during and after pregnancy. Too often we check on the baby, but not the mother.”

Mothers in need of help are not alone. Jamaica’s public health system includes health centres equipped to provide antenatal and postnatal mental health screening, with referrals to community mental health services. Bellevue Hospital also offers a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to deliver free assessments, psychotherapy, and medication management. While a dedicated maternal mental health helpline is still lacking, mothers can access the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline, the U-Matter Youth Chat Line for those aged 16 to 24, and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency hotline.

Still, Dr Laing-Case says more is needed.

“Mobile mental health units, online therapy, and targeted hotlines would make a world of difference. When you have a newborn, it’s hard to leave the house, so services must come to mommies.”

To fight the stigma, Jamaica must raise its voice. “We need culturally relevant campaigns that feature real Jamaican mothers sharing their stories. That’s how we normalise help-seeking. That’s how we change the narrative,” Dr Laing-Case urges.

Health-care workers, families, and the media all have a part to play in shifting attitudes and saving lives.

To every mother silently struggling, Dr Laing-Case says, “You are not alone. It is okay to feel overwhelmed, to admit that motherhood is harder than you expected. And it is okay to ask for help. Like on an airplane, you have to put on your oxygen mask first before helping your child. So be kind to yourself and be kind to your mind.”