A confronting short film exposing the hidden struggles of mothers has brought politicians and health experts to tears in a powerful campaign for reform.
The video created by Moonshine Films in partnership with advocacy group Mothers Matter debuted in New Zealand parliament and brought the stark realities of maternal suicide and perinatal depression to light on Wednesday.
Mothers Matter’s Raise The Flag campaign fights against the ‘shaming’ treatment of pregnant and new mothers and the lack of social and economic support they receive pre and post birth.
A confronting short film brought the stark realities of maternal suicide and perinatal depression to light on Wednesday in New Zealand Parliament
In the film, a woman locked in a violent relationship becomes pregnant and is trapped in a vicious cycle of abuse and alcoholism by her partner and father.
Founder of Mothers Matter Chloe Wright, said the film reveals the trauma many New Zealand mothers experience.
‘It moves through a time of inexplicable stresses that many experience, but few of us can comprehend – substance abuse to dull the pain of betrayal, loneliness, fear of the unknown or of the future,’ she told the NZ Herald.
After her partner deserts her and her dad continues drinking, she struggles to raise the child on her own and later leaves the baby with a note saying ‘I’m sorry’.
The three minute short film showed a woman locked in a violent relationship who later struggles with her pregnancy
The film shows how perinatal depression affects thousands of New Zealand mothers every year
The film ends with the woman’s father petitioning for change as the film ends with the words: ‘We approached the Government for help. They turned us away.’
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When prominent politicians Health Minister Andrew Little, Minister of Women Jan Tinetti, Act leader David Seymour, National MPs Simon Bridges and Louise Upston they were left stunned by the campaign.
With at least ten women lost to maternal suicide in New Zealand every year, Ms Wright said ‘enough is enough’ and government policies needs to improve.
‘Our mothers can’t wait any longer for the care they so desperately need’, she said.
The film showed the new mother struggling to raise her child after leaving a abusive relationship
The short film draws attention to the ten women lost to maternal suicide in New Zealand every year
‘Mothers already have a right to at least 48 hours of postnatal care but are often not receiving it because of overloaded hospital maternity units’.
One in seven new mothers also suffer postnatal depression after giving birth, with Māori and Pasifika far less likely to report postnatal depression.
Mothers Matters is also calling for equitable perinatal care as on average a child dies every five weeks as a result of violence in New Zealand.
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The Raise the Flag campaign by Mothers Matters fights against the ‘shaming’ treatment of pregnant and new mothers and the lack of social and economic support they receive
Source: Daily Mail
