TLC has seen how Obstetric violence contributes to the difficulty mothers have in attaching to and bonding with their new-born infants. In response we are opening Embrace Village. South Africa has a hostile maternity environment and no safe postpartum support centres. Mothers delivering naturally have only a 6 hour recovery time in clinics before being discharged and often only 1 or 2 days after a C-section. Many young new mommies have no one to ask for help, advice or support. That must change!
The current South African social context leaves expectant mothers vulnerable to serious mental health issues, potential infant abandonment, and negative lifelong social outcomes. The convergence of socioeconomic disparities, inadequate healthcare systems, and cultural stigmas exacerbates these challenges. It is essential to integrate healing and support approaches to properly change the trajectory for South African families.
Comprehensive integrated interventions are imperative. At a community level there will be accessible mental health services tailored to expectant and new mothers. Community carers will provide support aimed to destigmatize mental health support seeking and emphasize mothers right to choose post partum strategies and care for their infants. Furthermore, concerted efforts will be made to dismantle systemic inequalities through enhanced access to education, empowerment opportunities, and healthcare
The cycle of vulnerability will not continue. Children will no longer be raised in environments characterized by maternal mental distress and abandonment, or be more prone to replicating these patterns in their own lives, no longer perpetuating a cycle of intergenerational adversity. Consequently, we will help lift the strain on the broader South African social fabric as the cumulative effects of untreated maternal mental health will no longer reverberate through families and communities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
