South Africa: Working Together to Empower Mothers in Our Community

“During the course of working with SADAG on the Mental Health and Gender Initiative, Mums Support Network has been able to identify the shortcomings of maternal mental health identification and treatment in our area, and to learn what we can do realistically in our capacity as a small NPO to contribute to positively improving this situation.”

These words from Alexandra Wallis, founder and chair of Mums Support Network, reflect the organisation’s commitment to addressing maternal mental health challenges in KwaZulu-Natal. Through collaboration with SADAG under the WVL-SA programme, this Durban-based NPO is creating safe spaces for mothers and driving conversations that break stigma.

A Partnership for Change

Mums Support Network has worked with SADAG KZN for four years, since its inception as a provincial branch of SADAG. When approached to collaborate on the Mental Health and Gender Initiative, Alexandra and her team embraced the challenge. The goal: improve mental health awareness and access to support for mothers in local communities.

“This partnership has been immensely rewarding,” Alexandra says. “It gave us the opportunity to expand our reach and focus on what is missing in terms of mental health support—and how we can help in meaningful ways.”

Supporting Mothers Through Connection

Founded in Durban, Mums Support Network provides emotional support and encouragement to mothers and mothers-to-be, raising awareness of maternal mental health issues. While its main focus is perinatal distress, the organisation addresses the broader challenges of motherhood in the 21st century.

Support is offered through in-person and online groups, WhatsApp chats, and educational talks. These platforms allow mothers to share experiences, find comfort, and learn coping strategies. “An enormous amount of healing can take place simply by getting women together in a safe, non-judgemental space,” Alexandra explains. “These events don’t have to be complicated. As a small NPO, we’ve learned that we can accomplish a lot with only a little.”

Lessons Learned Through Collaboration

Working with SADAG and WVL-SA has provided valuable insights. “We’ve learned what attracts a community to an event, what works and doesn’t work, and the importance of hosting more of them,” Alexandra says. The team discovered that accessible venues and consistent engagement are key to success—but also challenging to achieve.

The initiative revealed gaps in maternal mental health identification and treatment, particularly in indigent communities. “We need to go back to basics when discussing mental health maintenance and treatment,” Alexandra notes. Education for families is critical, as stigma and lack of awareness remain major barriers.

By: Alexandra Wallis.