Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
Health experts from various institutions say more needs to be done to raise awareness on perinatal Mental Healthcare. They say most pregnant women need to be screened during their regular check-ups.
Experts expressed this during a stakeholder meeting at North West University in Mahikeng recently.
The partnership targets key weaknesses in perinatal mental healthcare, including limited provider training and low community awareness in underserved areas.
According to Perinatal Mental Health Project, about 30% of women in South Africa, living in dangerous environments, will experience mental illness during or after pregnancy.
Some will experience mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Health professionals at the North West University, Universitats Medizin Berlin and Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital gathered to discuss possible means in raising awareness on Perinatal Mental Health Disorder.
Toxic work environments are taking a serious toll on South African employees’ mental health, with one in four workers diagnosed with depression. pic.twitter.com/HqyEuvtsI2
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 14, 2025
They say, some pregnant women go through the illness without necessarily knowing the symptoms. An expert at Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Nthabiseng Morwe say, the perinatal mental health disorder can affect anyone living with pregnant women.
“Most of the time the illness affects women, but for a woman to be pregnant there is someone else involved — a partner. When the mother is not well, it can also affect the partner. It can also affect the family, the children and the caregivers. So, when a woman has a perinatal mood disorder, it is not only a problem for the woman, because it can affect all the layers that surround her. That is why awareness needs to be raised at all times, so that those who are affected and impacted by maternal wellness issues are able to get the support they need,” says Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, North Wests’, Dr Nthabiseng Morwe.
The Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital says it plans to rope in community health workers to disseminate information during their home visits.
HEALTH MATTERS | The South African Depression and Anxiety Group has introduced free online mental health support groups, providing safe spaces for people to share their experiences and receive support. Project Manager Krystle Kemp shares details. pic.twitter.com/d1jS809d0h
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 24, 2025
“We have identified the gap. We can say that we are dealing with matters of mental health, but the perinatal aspect of it is not really receiving enough attention. What we are going to do, as my colleague already alluded to, is develop training manuals and present them in language that will be understandable at their level, because they are closer to the community. When they explain these issues to the community, being capacitated in a language and at a level they understand will make it easier for them to go and disseminate the information within their communities,” says CEO at Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, Molefi Monokoane.
HEALTH MATTERS | The South African Depression and Anxiety Group has introduced free online mental health support groups, providing safe spaces for people to share their experiences and receive support. Project Manager Krystle Kemp shares details. pic.twitter.com/d1jS809d0h
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 24, 2025
An expert from Universitats Medizin Berlin, Dr Angel Phuti says they are hopeful that their strategies will help to reduce the illness.
“We are hopeful that, together with our partners, what we now see as a problem or a situation that needs improvement will eventually lead to something positive to report. For example, greater awareness and more involvement from stakeholders. We also hope that women will feel able to say, “I am not okay,” without fear and that they will receive support from their family members and partners,” says Principal Investigator at Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Dr Angel Phuti.
This while, funding for the programme has been secured from the German Hospital Partnership Network, facilitated through the German government.
The project will start once the preparations are completed.
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/experts-urge-more-awareness-on-perinatal-mental-health/
