By Alberta Naa Dedei James
Around a year back, my existence transformed entirely. My house was now resonating with a new melody, my sleeping habits were disrupted, and all that I recognized before reshaped itself. A small being joined my universe and redirected the course of life I had envisioned.
I embraced motherhood. Transitioning into the professional sphere as a first-time parent made me realize that adapting went beyond tweaking my daily routine; it necessitated recalibrating who I am, how I allocate my energy, and what occupies my thoughts.
Today, here I am seated at my desk, tapping nervously on my keyboard, pondering whether it’s time to articulate my reflections on mental well-being and maternal experiences. It seems fitting now more than ever—as this month marks Mental Health Awareness Month—and only recently did we observe Mothers’ Day.
However, this issue isn’t merely relevant; it’s also deeply personal. Having recently become a mother, I’ve gained significant insight into the intricate emotions involved when going back to work. The state of mental well-being at the job, particularly for new moms like myself, has turned into a cause I’m very passionate about.
Mental well-being is equally crucial as physical health since it shapes various aspects of our existence; it impacts our interactions, job or academic achievements, and can also affect our bodily condition. I strongly feel that excellent mental health is essential enough for everybody to have access to mental wellness resources and assistance.
Indeed, the greater our focus on mental well-being, the better equipped individuals become to handle life’s fluctuations, adjust to changes, and bounce back from difficulties.
Given the critical significance of mental health, let me underscore just how essential it is for women experiencing significant physical and emotional shifts during childbirth, especially when they’re also striving to meet the pressures of a corporate setting.
Turning into a mom transforms your life profoundly, infusing it with happiness yet burdening you with significant stress, fatigue, and doubt. Within the business environment, a newly minted mother might feel pressured to swiftly return to her pre-maternity role, sustain high performance levels, and juggle career duties alongside embracing a fresh, shifting self-concept as a parent.
In this highly pressurized environment, lacking proper support systems, mental health may readily be sidelined, resulting in overlooked issues like anxiety, burnout, or even undetected cases of postpartum depression.
This is precisely why promoting mental well-being, compassion, and adaptability in the office environment is not merely an option—it’s crucial for developing inclusive and compassionate company cultures where new moms can genuinely flourish.
Companies should prioritize supporting new mothers not only for ethical or compassionate reasons, but also because it significantly affects the stability, commitment, and productivity of their employee base.
When organizations recognize the distinct difficulties faced by new mothers and proactively make room for their wellness, they cultivate an environment of trust, inclusivity, and lasting staff commitment.
First-time moms frequently balance sleep-deprived evenings, bodily recuperation, parenting duties, and self-questioning, all while aiming to fulfill career aspirations.
Lacking proper backing, this juggling routine may result in withdrawal, diminished output, and premature departures from the job market. Conversely, organizations providing adaptable working conditions, psychological well-being programs, family-oriented sabbaticals, and compassionate management have a higher chance of keeping their best employees and fostering robust team dynamics.
Furthermore, when mothers receive support, their whole families reap rewards—and consequently, so do communities and economies. Putting resources into improving maternal health is more than aiding individual people; it’s about reinforcing societal structures and fostering a future where nobody must decide between pursuing work and providing care.
The business sector needs to acknowledge that aiding new mothers isn’t just a gesture of goodwill—it’s an obligation and a key strategy for success.
To promote mental health wellness, the Mental Health Authority of Ghana, alongside the Ministry of Health and multiple partners, declared May as ‘Purple Month’ in 2024, focusing on raising awareness about mental health issues.
This effort aligns Ghana with nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where May is observed for comparable reasons.
>>The writer serves as a PR Account Manager at Global Media Alliance. She can be contacted through
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