‘These women are hurting’

They cry. They pray. They turn to substance abuse. They even self-harm. Just to cope. Those who are able to get help are more hopeful. Several find more wholesome ways to manage.

A high percentage of Jamaican mothers, especially single mothers with limited resources, are finding it quite difficult to balance life with parenting, according to a study just released by the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), dubbed: ‘Psychiatric Disorders of Jamaican Women with Children: Post-COVID-19’.

Testimonials from the most affected mothers are disheartening.

“I love my kids, but I was not ready to be a mother,” admitted one of 1,067 females canvassed across the island as part of the NCU study.

“I don’t seem to connect with them and I can’t give them what they need.”

Reflected another pained mom, “Ever since my husband died I have been very depressed, and it has strained our (children’s) relationship.”

“I have issues with their father which I take out on them,” confessed another; while one admitted: “Sometimes I overdo the drinking, and they (children) call me an alcoholic,” as the reason her relationship with her children has been strained.

According to data from the study, 45.5 per cent of mothers said they are “unable to balance being a mother with work and social life”; while 11 per cent said they “had no social life”. 26.1 per cent “depended on family support”.

More than half the respondents (50.5 per cent) said they had difficulty providing for their families, and 26.2 per cent of them said they have been diagnosed with a mental illness since becoming a mother. Depression was the most common among them, followed by bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-partum depression, and major depressive disorder.

According to the findings, at least five per cent of Jamaican mothers have poor relationships with their children, and the majority of those with good bonds find it extremely difficult to juggle work, social life, and spending quality time with their offspring.

GENERATIONS OF HURT

The realities are taking a high toll on their mental health, the majority of whom are depressed and crying behind closed doors. Most are too ashamed to seek professional help, the experts say.

“Twenty-six per cent of Jamaican women who have children go through post-traumatic stress disorder, and I don’t think we have ever done a study to tell us exactly what is happening to these women,” charged Paul Bourne, acting director of Institutional Research at NCU.

“These are some of those mothers who are speaking to us now. More than half say they can’t provide for their families, a number of them have PTSD, and 22 per cent of mothers said they had family members who had mental health issues after they had children.”

“So these women are hurting, and we are talking over generations,” he added, noting that the feelings lead to abuse and antisocial behaviours, and ultimately fuel disorder and criminality in society.

Cumulatively, the reflections in the study paint pictures of resentment, neglect, self-hatred, spousal hatred, and a breakdown of discipline, seemingly among the pre-teen and adolescent group as the main reasons for strained mother/child relationships.

This is of particular concern for the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), which has repeatedly cited mothers as the main perpetrators of some of the most heinous childhood abuse.

In two of the instances, the CPFSA reported that a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest by his mother for fighting with a younger sibling; while a four-year-old boy was beaten with an ironing board and mop stick by his mom for misbehaving. According to Ericka Gilbert-Hope, Manager of the Investigation Unit, CPFSA, over the years they have had far too many cases of mothers abusing their children.

“We have been seeing an increase in mothers who express being under severe pressure as a result of their children displaying behavioural problems coupled with the pressures of life. Motherhood is a very demanding role and from reports received and investigations conducted, most of the families we visit are single parent households headed by mothers who do not get any support from their children’s fathers, or other family members. This leads to mothers becoming depressed, thus causing them to even abuse their children, especially physically and emotionally,” Gilbert-Hope told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.

“At the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, once a report is received about a child, we focus on not just the child but the family holistically. Our Children and Family Support Unit provides intervention and makes referral where necessary to ensure the right intervention is provided in order to ensure that the family functions effectively.”

She added, “The role of motherhood is a huge task, therefore, do not do it alone. Please reach out to us if you need support/intervention for yourself or your child/children by calling 211 or 876-948-2841-2. Let us help you to manage this huge role called ‘MOTHERHOOD’.”

HELPING MOTHERS TO MANAGE

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issues, the NCU researchers found, a point amplified by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton in his latest sectoral debate. On Friday, he reiterated some of the community interventions aimed at addressing mental health issues, noting that mothers continue to be a priority.

“I certainly believe that our society functions primarily on the guidance provided by mothers, particularly in the context of single-parent households, which is the dominant feature of our society,” Tufton told The Sunday Gleaner.

“The kind of support that we must give to our mothers starts from before they become physical mothers and is grounded in the public health and primary healthcare infrastructure. Post-birth, we also need to give continued support through the primary care system to help mothers to manage.”

Chief Medical Officer Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie said there is ongoing training to help first contact staff in the primary healthcare system to identify and offer assistance to mothers suffering from mental health issues during and after their pregnancies.

“We are launching this year the Life Stage Approach to health promotion and prevention where each person who visits the clinic, we will discuss health issues relevant to their life stage,” she told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday, adding that mental wellness is a key component of the talk.

“Additionally, during the six-week visit, where the mother takes in the baby for a check-up, there is a requirement in the maternity health record for the healthcare provider to check off whether there are any signs of depression to indicate whether intervention is needed.”

According to the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), 31,276 live births were reported last year.

The NCU study was conducted between October and November last year using questionnaires and had a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent. The majority of the respondents were between ages 25 and 35; 590 were employed, with most only attaining secondary-level education. Kingston had the largest number of respondents, with 231.

Single women made up the largest proportion of the responses at 47.2 per cent; while 3.4 per cent of the sample of 1,067 were widowed.

A total of 241 mothers who participated had one child; while 319 had two children; 208 had three, and 205 had four. Seventy-seven had five children, while one respondent had a total of 15.

“This study highlights the need for effective coping strategies and reliable support networks for mothers,” the researchers concluded.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com

TOP 10 WAYS MOTHERS COPE WITH STRESS

1. Cry – 23.4 per cent

2. Pray – 16.4 per cent

3. Substance abuse – 12.7 per cent

4. Talk to someone – 10.4 per cent

5. Sleep – 8.7 per cent

6. Listen to music – 7.0 per cent

7. Eat – 5.8 per cent

8. Spend time with family – 3.4 per cent

9. Exercise – 2.2 per cent

10. Take time for myself – 2.2 per cent

- Source: NCU study: Psychiatric Disorders of Jamaican Women with Children: Post-COVID-19