In this episode our guest is Nadia Mbonde. Nadia is a MotherScholar, Multimedia Artist, Mental Health Doula, a doctoral student . She came to the cafe to discuss the importance of mental health discussions in reproductive healthcare, and the broader societal impacts of racial and gender bias. Grab your warm drink and tune in for a great conversation!

Some key takeaways:

• Mental health and reproduction should be viewed together, not separately, to help reduce maternal mortality
• There's often poor coordination between mental health providers and reproductive healthcare
• Quality mental health care is heavily segregated, with stark differences between private and public facilities
• Being informed helps in advocating for oneself in healthcare settings
• Having support (like doulas) can improve healthcare experiences
• It's important to fact-check and seek multiple opinions when receiving medical advice
• There's misinformation about mental health medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Check out Nadia’s work!

About Nadia

Nadia is a MotherScholar, Multimedia Artist, Mental Health Doula, a doctoral student in Sociocultural Anthropology at New York University and a multi-media artist pursuing a certificate in Culture & Media, a nationally-respected program in media documentation. Her research and creative work is situated at the intersection of medical anthropology, disability studies, Mad studies, and Black feminist theory. As a National Science Foundation Research Fellow and a Birth Equity Scholar, her research addresses how perinatal mental health disparities contribute to the ongoing Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in the United States.

Nadia’s website: https://nadianmbonde.com/

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