Shadows of Motherhood screening sparks dialogue on maternal mental health

On 24 September 2025, stakeholders, health professionals, and community members gathered at Nhaka Gallery in Harare for the screening of Shadows of Motherhood. The powerful film explored the stigma women in Zimbabwe face during the perinatal period, highlighting its causes and impact on mothers and their families. The event provided a space for dialogue on stigma experienced by women around maternal health and fertility.

It was based on the lived experiences of women receiving perinatal mental health support provided by S.A.L.T Africa (Someone Always Listens to You) at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Attendees engaged in discussions that shed light on both challenges and opportunities for improving support systems for mothers. The event was led by Dr Emma Wilson and Dr Rudo Chingono, with the latter saying “It’s time to stop trivializing the struggles women face during their reproductive age.

Let’s create a culture where we support women battling with infertility, endometriosis, still births, child loss, and antenatal/postpartum depression. It’s time to put an end to stigma induced depression, stress and anxiety.” The screening was hosted in partnership with Thru ZIM, the Biomedical Research and Training Institute, University College London (UCL), S.A.L.T Africa, ARDENT Creative, and Neotree with funding from UCL Grand Challenges.

This important conversation marked a step toward reducing stigma and fostering supportive environments for women in Zimbabwe during and after pregnancy