ORLANDO, Fla. – Last week, News 6 highlighted a significant gap in maternal mental health for mothers, revealing that 75% of women affected never receive treatment. Among these, Black women are at the highest risk, with two in five experiencing maternal mental health symptoms.
News 6 anchor Bridgett Ellison spoke with therapist “Dr. Shaenor” Ishmael about the roots of these disparities and the challenges that place Black women at greater risk for complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Dr. Shaenor is working to raise mental health awareness and provide one-on-one therapeutic support for Black women before, during and after pregnancy.
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“I noticed a gap in one, raising awareness and two, offering that one-on-one therapeutic support for a Black woman, validating them, letting them know they’re heard, empowering them to use their voice,” she said.
As a maternal mental health therapist and mother of a premature baby, Dr. Shaenor understands the unique journey Black women face before, during, and after pregnancy. She pointed out a concerning trend: “The CDC actually released a report in February 2025 that indicated that for every other race, maternal mortality is decreasing, but for a Black woman, maternal mortality increased. So therefore we really have to take a look at what is happening.”
Increasing research is shedding light on the systemic inequalities in care for Black women. Dr. Shaenor referenced Linda Villarosa’s book, “Under the Skin”, which discusses the systematic inequalities that Black women face and how these impact their health. She also mentioned another book titled “Weathering,” which explores the toll that racism and systemic injustices take on Black women’s bodies.
Statistics reveal that Black mothers face maternal mental health symptoms at twice the rate of all women, yet up to half never receive treatment, according to the CDC.
“For Black women, the CDC also shows that 30% of Black women feel unheard during their maternal period. That is an alarming statistic, especially when 80% of maternal mortality deaths can be avoided,” Dr. Shaenor said.
Cultural barriers and stigma contribute to dire consequences, with mental health conditions posing long-term risks for both mother and baby.
“It impacts how we carry a child; it impacts how we show up in the postpartum period,” Dr. Shaenor explained.
She advocates for greater education to normalize conversations around mental health.
“Knowing more about the conditions and supporting others to seek care and support that’s available could truly mean the difference between more life or more death,” she said.
“It’s very, very important for us to raise awareness, for us to advocate, for us to truly let individuals know to use their voice. You have a voice; you are meant to be heard,” Dr. Shaenor added.
Dr. Shaenor discussed how greater awareness in the healthcare system could make a difference. This includes more counselors to better incorporate mental health into maternal medical care and providing implicit bias training to increase understanding of disparities among all patients.
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