Changing the narrative for safer motherhood
For many women, pregnancy and childbirth bring joy and contentment. For others, it is a period fraught with anxiety, depression and isolation as they struggle to adjust to their new realities while dealing with other demands of life.
Too many of these women suffer in silence, often going without diagnosis, treatment and support, due to stigma, lack of awareness, and gaps in mental health provision. Postpartum depression (PPD), when undiagnosed, can lead to suicidal thoughts and, in some cases, fatal outcomes. In many high-income countries, such as the US and UK, maternal suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths at 39% and 34% respectively. By contrast, in low and middle-income countries, maternal suicide is often hidden in broader suicide statistics, obscuring its true magnitude and preventing the development of tailored interventions.
Maternal suicide— defined as suicide occurring during pregnancy or within one year after childbirth—stems from an interplay of complex factors including pre-existing mental health disorders, intimate partner violence, substance abuse, pregnancy complications and lack of social support. One starting point for addressing this hidden crisis is postpartum depression, a key risk factor of maternal suicide. This may serve as a starting point through which research and government may examine this issue, particularly given that the prevalence of PPD across Africa currently stands at 16.8%.
Maternal suicide matters
Recognizing maternal suicide as a distinct and urgent issue requires a significant shift in how society views maternal health, to include not only physical health but also the mental and emotional well-being of mothers, and establishing the necessary structures to support them. Many young mothers, particularly those in underserved communities, struggle with antenatal and postnatal depression, yet mental health services remain scarce.
In addition, when a mother dies by suicide, the consequences extend far beyond her: the child is left without the most critical caregiver during those first days of life, increasing the risk of poor health outcomes, malnutrition, disrupted attachment, and long-term psychosocial problems. The loss of a woman’s life has a ripple effect on the wider society through loss of household income and destabilizing of social structures.
These challenges to maternal mental health are compounded by other multiple factors, including shrinking development aid, unemployment, conflicts and migration that have added pressure to already fragile health systems and can exacerbate suicide rates. Without clear strategies to combat maternal health challenges, the situation risks worsening in the future.
From words to action
Maternal suicide, though often invisible in policy and data, must be recognized as a public health concern. Strengthening familial and community support is critical, including actively involving male partners in maternal healthcare can further contribute to better health outcomes for both mothers and their newborns. Many women navigate motherhood with little or no spousal support. Shared responsibility —whether through attending antenatal visits, participating in parenting classes or being involved in daily childcare—reduces the emotional and mental burden on mothers.
Funding for community programs that provide psychological support, parental education, and social connections for mothers should be prioritized. At the same time, community health promoters and other health workers should be trained to identify signs of postpartum depression and suicidal ideation early. Governments should also allocate funding to strengthen health services and ensure the integration of mental health into primary care, including antenatal and postnatal care. Health workers should also be skilled in screening and managing maternal mental health as part of their routine and essential maternal health services. Investment in research is needed to better understand the full range of physical, emotional and mental challenges affecting maternal health to inform programming.
Existing research, including from the African Population and Health Research Center, highlights the urgent need for integrated maternal health interventions into routine mental health screening and community-led support systems. These include screening for depression during routine antenatal and postnatal visits and establishing referral pathways for mental health care. Normalizing conversations about maternal mental health and emotional well-being is just as important as clinical interventions, as silence prevents care. Such measures can save lives, reduce stigma, and improve the quality of life for both mothers and their children.
Addressing the broader social and structural drivers of PPD—such as poverty, intimate partner violence, and gender inequality must be part of the solution. Empowering women, ensuring access to social safety nets and creating a platform of networking and experience sharing among pregnant mothers, supporting survivors of violence can foster resilience. At the policy level, strategies to strengthen domestic funding and health systems sustainability are crucial for protecting maternal health, particularly in the face of fluctuating international funding.
Maternal suicide is not inevitable. With timely intervention, robust health systems, and supportive communities, motherhood can be a period of joy rather than despair. Preventing maternal suicide is not only about saving lives—it is about safeguarding families, securing the future of children, preventing moral crisis and upholding women’s right to health, hope and dignity.
By Michelle Mbuthia, Senior Communications Officer at the African Population and Health Research Center