A mental health advocate, Mrs. Chioma Ezeakonobi, has called on new mothers to break the silence surrounding postpartum depression, emphasizing that openness is key to receiving timely support during their healing journey.
Ezeakonobi made the call during an interview on Friday in Lagos, where she shared her personal experience with postpartum depression—a mental health condition affecting many women globally.
She described postpartum depression as an underdiagnosed and often underrated condition, despite its serious implications for women’s health and well-being.
“The cycle of silence attached to postpartum depression leaves many women to suffer alone,” she said.
Recounting her own experience, Ezeakonobi revealed that her struggle began after the birth of her second child, marked by anxiety, tearfulness, fatigue, and persistent sadness.
Despite the emotional toll, she found strength through education and self-awareness, and with the support of her husband and family, she was able to cope and recover.
Her experience inspired her to become a mental health advocate and author. She wrote Navigating Postpartum Depression, a book that documents not only her journey but also the experiences of other mothers who have faced similar struggles.
Ezeakonobi said her mission is to raise awareness, dismantle the stigma around postpartum depression, and offer support to women worldwide.
She urged expectant and new mothers to recognize the signs of the condition and seek help without fear or shame.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), postpartum depression is a common but treatable mental health condition that affects women after childbirth. If left unaddressed, it can negatively impact both the mother’s well-being and the child’s development.
Symptoms typically include emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, feelings of guilt, and anxiety. Globally, about 1 in 7 new mothers are affected. In Nigeria, prevalence rates range between 10% and 36.5%.
WHO stresses the importance of early screening, diagnosis, and intervention—alongside effective treatments and support systems—to ensure better outcomes for mothers and their families.
