‘Silence stigmatises’ mothers with mental health problems

THERE is a “conspiracy of silence” among healthcare practitioners and women in general when it comes to mothers who have a mental health problem.

Professor Agnes Higgins, of Trinity College Dublin, said mothers with a mental illness feel isolated and afraid to talk about the problem for fear their child might be taken away.

She said there was a real need for healthcare practitioners to change the way they think to alleviate the pressures on mothers.

Prof Higgins is supervising a study which aims to talk to 40 women around the country in relation to mothering and mental health problems.

Funded by the Health Research Board, Teresa Tuohy — a registered nurse, counsellor and a PhD student at the school of nursing and midwifery, TCD — is carrying out the research and is looking for women to interview about their experiences.

Prof Higgins said the issue is very important and one that has never been looked at in great detail.

She said: “When we look at what is written, it is always in a negative tone. What needs to be recognised is the strength and resilience of these women, and maybe there is another story to be told.”

Prof Higgins said women with mental health difficulties were vulnerable and often felt they were under surveillance rather than supported.

“They often don’t feel they can talk truthfully and honestly about how they are feeling. They feel that their child might be in danger of being taken away.”

According to Prof Higgins other pressures are the “expectation of motherhood”.

“The pressure to be this perfect mother is so great and women if they don’t live up to it that they are in some way a bad mother. And women put on this brave mask. If something is wrong they feel they are the only ones, community support is absent.”

A recent TCD study for the National Disability Authority (NDA) explored the wider experiences of women with disabilities — and to a lesser degree mental health problems — accessing and using the maternity services.

Many women spoke of the lack of knowledge among maternity care staff regarding their particular disability and the need for an individual package of care to be developed in partnership early in their pregnancy.

Access to specialised services was contingent upon geographical location and good liaison between maternity care and mental health service providers.

Women with limited or no access to publicly funded specialised psychological services had to resource supports independently, which had significant financial implications for them.

If you would like to take part in Teresa Tuohy’s research please contact her by email at [e-mail] or phone [phone].