Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2026

Summary

Sandra Igwe MBE, is the Founder and CEO of The Motherhood Group, author of My Black Motherhood, and a Topic leader for Patient Safety Learning’s online platform, the hub. In this blog, Sandra tells us more about what’s in store for this year’s Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK, and how you can get involved.

She introduces this year’s theme: Joy • Justice • Journey, and explains why action must extend beyond the awareness week.

Content

Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2026 takes place from Monday 21 to Sunday 27 September. It brings together mothers, grassroots organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, charities, policymakers and partners for a national week of conversation, learning, community and action.

The programme includes:

Monday 21 September

• JOY: Official Campaign Film Launch, opening the week and sharing the 2026 theme and call to action.

Tuesday 22 September, 9.30am to 11.30am

• JUSTICE: Parliamentary Breakfast in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons, hosted by me, with opening remarks from Abena Oppong-Asare MP. The discussion will focus on being listened to and believed, equitable and culturally safe care, rights, accountability and meaningful systems change.

Wednesday 23 September, 12pm to 2pm

• JOURNEY: The Big Conversation, a live audio event on Mumbrite bringing together mothers, psychologists, therapists, researchers, doulas, baby-loss and neonatal charities, advocates and grassroots organisations. We will explore postnatal depression and anxiety, postpartum psychosis, baby loss, NICU, birth trauma, loneliness, identity, racism, maternity rights, culturally safe therapy, healing and recovery.

Thursday 24 September, 11am to 12.30pm

• JOY IN COMMUNITY: Black Maternal Mental Health Walk & Talk in Greenwich Park, meeting at The Pavilion Café. This is a relaxed, pram-friendly morning of movement, conversation and connection, delivered with Mumbrite, Fal’s Own Club and Bodied By XO. Babies, children and prams are welcome.

Friday 25 September, 9am to 5pm

• Black Maternal Health Conference Watch Party, online via Zoom, opening up learning from the 2026 national conference to individuals, NHS teams, universities, charities, workplaces and community organisations.

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September

• Rest, reflect and reconnect, with space for wellbeing, community reflection, gratitude, resources and carrying the work forward.

Full programme and registration links

Mothers can also join Mumbrite to connect with the community and take part in live conversations.

What must happen beyond the week

Awareness weeks matter because they focus attention. But attention without action is not enough.

I want Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK 2026 to prompt every healthcare organisation to ask difficult, practical questions. Are Black mothers believed when they describe pain or psychological distress? Are staff confident enough to provide culturally safe and trauma-informed care? Are women being referred before they reach crisis point? Can community partners raise concerns and influence service design? Does the organisation learn from complaints and incidents involving race, or are those elements softened or removed from the analysis?

Commissioners and healthcare leaders should fund culturally responsive community services as long-term safety partners, not invite them in only during Black History Month or an awareness week. Professionals should be equipped to challenge bias and know where to signpost mothers for trusted support. Researchers should work with Black mothers as partners and co-producers, not simply as subjects. Policymakers should connect maternal mental health, maternity safety and racial equity rather than treating them as separate agendas.

For me, Joy • Justice • Journey is more than a theme.

• Joy is the right of Black mothers to experience motherhood without being defined only by risk or struggle.

• Justice is being listened to, believed, protected and offered equitable care.

• Journey is the recognition that maternal mental health does not begin and end at a six-week check. Support must be available before, during and long after pregnancy, including after trauma, neonatal care and loss.

When Black mothers are heard early, supported safely and treated with dignity, families are stronger and services are safer. That is the change we are working towards, during Black Maternal Mental Health Week and every day beyond it.

About the author

Sandra Igwe MBE is the Founder and Chief Executive of The Motherhood Group and Founder of Mumbrite. She is the author of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System, a maternal-health advocate and a national convener of Black Maternal Mental Health Week UK. She is also a Topic leader for Patient Safety Learning’s, the hub.