Family Mental Health

In the first three months of 2026, your support translated into real change — for a mother sitting anxiously in an antenatal waiting room, for a family quietly carrying the weight of mental illness, for a community learning that seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness.

This report captures what we accomplished together: 767 people educated on mental health, 150 expectant mothers given a safe space to voice their fears, 223 individuals and families supported through therapy, and a landmark research trial that puts evidence-based perinatal mental healthcare firmly on Zimbabwe's health agenda.

A Historic Milestone: The SPANS Family and Child health block.

On 27 March 2026, SPANS hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for the SPANS Wellness Centre at Ruwa Clinic. The occasion was graced by distinguished guests who lent their voices to a vision that is now becoming a reality.

. The event was graced by representatives from Lions Club zimbabwe, Dr Zvavamwe the district’s Medical Officer who was represented by Dr munyanyi, District Governor Lion Bothwell Nyajeka, DNO Sr Mutsambi, Mr Mushonga the Administrator who was representing the Goromonzi District Council. The ceremony marked the beginning of a renewed commitment to health, dignity, and future of families and children in the community. This is in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) 2026-2030, following its pillars inclusive of macro economic stability, infrastructure development  and digital transformation. The block is all about access to quality healthcare for mothers, newborns and children. Our focus begins with pregnant women because we understand that whatever affects the mother can also directly impact the child. Our dignitaries shared valuable speeches that spoke a lot about perinatal mental health and how it is important for the whole community to come together for mothers and their children.

The SPANS Wellness Centre will house dedicated spaces for therapy, health education, maternal support, and community wellness. It will be a place where families come not because something has gone wrong — but because they know they deserve support.

We are inviting partners to invest in the completion of this centre. Every contribution — large or small — brings us closer to a facility that will serve thousands of families for decades to come.

Support Group for Expectant Mothers

Picture this: a woman arrives alone at a busy hospital for her antenatal scan. She sits in a crowded waiting room, not knowing what the scan will reveal. There is no one beside her to hold her hand — no one to explain what the results might mean, or to simply say, "You are not alone."

SPANS identified this gap and created something powerful: every Thursday, we transform the waiting room into a circle of support. Our team provides emotional and psychosocial care to expectant mothers before they enter the scan room, creating a calm, friendly environment where women can voice their fears and receive honest, compassionate guidance.

For many, it was the first time anyone had asked how they were feeling — not just how the pregnancy was progressing, but how they were doing as a person. That distinction matters more than words can convey.

  Landmark Research: Evidence-Based Perinatal Mental Healthcare.

SPANS received ethics approval (MRCZ/A/3375) for a landmark study: a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial examining the effectiveness of Systemic Family Therapy for women with perinatal mental disorders in Zimbabwe.

 Individual & Family Therapy

Therapy is where transformation happens at the deepest level ,ccxwhere individuals and families process pain, rebuild trust, and develop the tools to face life's challenges. This quarter, 223 clients received therapy at SPANS, presenting primarily with infidelity, marital conflict, and family relationship breakdowns

Closing the Gender Gap in Therapy

While we celebrate progress in health education, we acknowledge a challenge in therapy: male engagement declined this quarter. Our analysis points to two root causes: deep-seated societal stigma that equates emotional expression with weakness, and practical scheduling barriers  many men cannot access therapy during standard office hours.

SPANS is actively designing solutions  including extended hours and community-based outreach  to ensure that men can access support without compromising their dignity or their schedules. Donor support for this initiative would be transformative.

None of this is possible without partners like you. We invite you to read on and to see yourself in every number, every story, every life touched.

With gratitude,

The SPANS Team

• Detailed report (PDF)
  

As Perinatal mental health remains an under reprepesented sector of maternal mental health, as the  Society for Pre and Post Natal Services (SPANS) it is our mission to improve the issues surrounding maternal mental health. This report serves to discuss the activities that occurred during the last quarter of the year. These include our 3rd graduation of family therapists, the 4th International conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa (ICAMMHA) and collaboration with Intersect Africa.

• 3rd Graduation at SPANS Vocational Training Institute..   

The 3rd graduation for mental health Family Therapists at our vocational training institute marked a significant milestone in addressing the critical need for specialized care in our field.   In November the Vocational Training institute hosted its 3rd graduation which was held at the Jubilee Christian centre in Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe. A total of of 89 students graduated as family therapists who had completed their  2 year diploma. The occasion was graced by the presence of representatives from the Allied Health Practitional Council of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) which strengthened the importance of collaborations and partnerships in trying to address issues related to mental health and the demand in human capital within the sector. This cohort of graduates is uniquely equipped to provide comprehensive support to families navigating the complexities of maternal mental health challenges, from preconception through the postpartum period and beyond. Their training has emphasized a holistic, family-centered approach, recognizing that a mother's mental well-being profoundly impacts the entire family system.

• 4th International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa

 As the Society for Pre and Post Natal Services we are delighted to let you know that in  december 2025 from the 4-5th, we successfully hosted the 4th International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa known as ICAMMHA in Harare, Zimbabwe at Cresta Lodge.

The conference was a hybrid conference themed, Empowering mothers: Bridging Mental Health and Maternal Care in Africa. The conference aimed to bridge the gap between innovation and practical application, bringing together global experts and local communities to align mental health and maternal care.ICAMMHA 2025 was opened today by the Deputy Director for Mental Health from the Zimbabwean Minsitry of Health & Child Care and we were addressed by the WHO focal person for Mental Health in Zimbabwe. Conference had an estimate of a 130 delegates who attended online and in-person. Panels ranged from mental health and wellbeing, fathers and stigma as well as early parent-infant bonds. This was done in an attempt to cover all research areas pertaining maternal mental health in Africa and beyond. The event features distinguished symposium talks, exhibits, oral and poster presentations, and interactive panels, showcasing peer-reviewed research papers, international position papers, best practice abstracts, and insights from special guest speakers . The goal is to explore the current landscape of maternal mental health, address persistent challenges, and share effective tools, practices, and evidence to refine strategies, foster innovation, and build transformative partnerships for a healthier future for mothers and their families. The conference also provides a platform for collaboration and innovation, with a strong emphasis on improving maternal and infant mental health . The African Alliance for Maternal Mental Health (AAMMH), which works to improve maternal mental health across Africa, highlights the critical need to prioritize maternal mental health to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, given that mental health problems in pregnancy and postpartum are roughly twice as common in low-incom countries .ICAMMHA wrapped up on December 5, 2025, with gratitude extended to all delegates, keynote speakers, partners, and sponsors for their contributions and passion for maternal mental health 

Post ICAMMHA Closed in workshop 

Following the International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa, the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity at NYU Grossman School of Medicine convened a high-level meeting that brought together Ministry of Health leaders, funders, implementers, ecosystem partners and women with lived experience to advance a coordinated agenda for maternal mental health across Africa.
Key priorities agreed include:
1. Policy mapping to identify gaps and opportunities
2. Collating training tools and resources for health workers, mothers and families
3. Partnering with lived experience and creative voices to strengthen awareness and advocacy
4. Identifying strategic champions to drive visibility and investment

This marks an important step toward a unified, multisectoral effort to improve maternal mental health outcomes on the continent.
We invite partners across sectors to join us in advancing this work - through collaboration, expertise and support that strengthens systems and elevates the voices of mothers and families.

Links:

• ICAMMHA Linkedlin page
• ICAMMHA website
• SPANS vocational training institute website