Mental Health and Teen Mothers
Teen mothers have a higher rate of depression and are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than their teenage peers. Teenage mothers face a myriad of challenges including poor education, poverty, malnutrition, lack of medical care, complications of pregnancy, and emotional problems such as depression and substance abuse. As such, a baby born to a teenage mother is more likely to have poor general health and face developmental delays in acquiring cognitive, social and emotional skills.
Experiencing pregnancy as a teenager can be both an overwhelming, challenging and complex situation. You may feel significant emotional stress and lack the necessary support system from family, friends and the community. You may be forced to drop out of school and feel alone. You are not alone and there is help. Our centers are non-judgmental; we aim aim to erase societal stigma, and provide comfort and hope.
Our Strategies
- We emplore a mutifaceted approach that addresses teen parents' unique needs.
- We engage a coordinated effort with governments, other NGO's, communities and families to create supportive environments that enable teen mothers to thrive despite the challenges they face.
- It takes a whole village to raise a child! As a society it is our responsibility to protect every child and ensure their health, safety, security and well being is met.
Developing reintegration programs to help teen mothers return to school after childbirth. This includes implementing flexible schooling options, such as evening classes or online education, to accommodate their schedules.
Prenatal and postnatal care ensures access to comprehensive healthcare services during and after pregnancy. We incorporate mental wellness support by providing counseling to help them cope with stress and potential postpartum depression.
We offer and advocate for vocational training programs to equip teen mothers with skills needed for employment. This includes facilitating access to microloans and financial literacy programs to help them start small businesses.
We help establish support groups where teen mothers can share experiences and advice. This includes mentorship programs where we connect them with mentors who can provide guidance and support.
Affordable childcare programs provide access to reliable childcare services to enable teen mothers to continue their education or work.
We also host a clothes and food bank to ensure babies born to teen mothers have their basic necessities met.
Protective Legislation: We are continually lobbying governments and advocate for laws and policies that protect the rights of teen mothers and their children, which includes securing legal identities and access to services.
We conduct community education programs to reduce the stigma and discrimination against teen mothers. Our programs involve community leaders in supporting teen mothers and promoting gender equality.
We provide family counseling to encourage them to support and have an understanding of teen mothers. Parental education is critical for parents to understand the importance of supporting their daughters through this period.
We offer comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health to both females and males to help prevent future unintended pregnancies. We also lobby governments to provide education and access to contraceptives to ensure that teen pregnancies are avoided.
We collaborate with NGOs and international organizations to leverage resources, expertise, and funding.