By Alberta Naa Dedei JAMES
About a year ago, my life changed completely. A new sound filled my home, my sleep pattern shifted and everything I once knew took on a different shape. A tiny human entered my world and altered the trajectory of the life I had imagined.
I became a mother. As a new mom navigating the corporate world, I quickly learnt that this transition required more than just adjusting my schedule—it demanded a rebalancing of my identity, energy and mental space.
Fast forward to today, I found myself sitting in front of my laptop, fidgeting with my hands, wondering if I should finally put my thoughts on mental health and motherhood into words. The timing feels right—after all, May is Mental Health Awareness Month; and just days ago, we celebrated Mothers’ Day.
But this topic isn’t just timely; it’s personal. As a new mom, I’ve come to deeply understand the emotional complexities that come with returning to work. Mental health in the workplace—especially for new mothers—has become a subject I care about passionately.
Mental Health is just as vital as physical health, as it influences every path of our lives; it affects our relationships, our performance at work or school and even our physical health in itself. I believe good mental health is so important that everyone deserves the right to mental wellness and support.
In fact, the more we pay attention to mental health, the more we help people to be better able to navigate life’s ups and downs, adapt to change and recover from setbacks.
As we have established the vital importance of mental health, I cannot overemphasise how crucial it is for women navigating the profound physical and emotional changes that come with childbirth, particularly within the demands of a corporate environment.
Becoming a mother is a life-altering experience that brings not only joy, but also immense pressure, exhaustion and uncertainty. In the corporate space, a new mum may be expected to bounce back quickly, maintain productivity and balance both professional responsibilities and a new, evolving identity as a mother.
In such a high-pressure setting, without the right support systems, mental health can easily take a back seat, leading to anxiety, burnout or even postpartum depression going unnoticed.
That’s why fostering mental wellness, empathy and flexibility in the workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential to building inclusive and humane corporate cultures where new mothers can truly thrive.
Supporting new mothers should be a corporate priority—not just for moral or emotional reasons; but because it directly impacts the sustainability, loyalty and performance of a company’s workforce.
When organisations acknowledge the unique challenges new mothers face and actively create space for their well-being, they foster a culture of trust, inclusion and long-term employee engagement.
New mothers often juggle sleepless nights, physical recovery, childcare responsibilities and self-doubt—all while striving to meet professional expectations.
Without adequate support, this balancing act can lead to disengagement, reduced productivity and even early exits from the workforce. On the other hand, companies that offer flexible work policies, mental health resources, parent-friendly leave structures and empathetic leadership are more likely to retain top talent and build resilient teams.
Moreover, when mothers are supported, entire families benefit—and by extension, communities and economies. Investing in maternal well-being is not just about supporting individuals; it’s about strengthening the fabric of society and shaping a future where no one has to choose between career and care.
It’s time for the corporate world to recognise that supporting new mothers is not a favour—it’s a responsibility and a strategic imperative.
In a significant move toward promoting mental health well-being, the Mental Health Authority of Ghana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and various stakeholders in 2024, designated May as ‘Purple Month’, dedicated to mental health awareness.
This initiative places Ghana in line with other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, which also observe May for similar purposes.
>>>the writer is a PR Account Manager at Global Media Alliance. She can be reached via [email protected]
