Most mothers remember the first time they laid eyes on their new-born and the joy a baby can bring.
But for some, motherhood can also be an incredibly isolating journey.
Fijian maternal mental health advocate Mercedes Swann knows the feeling of loneliness as a new mum all too well.
Her experience led to the creation of ‘Mama Talanoa’ in 2025, an online safe space for Pacific mothers who can openly share the highs and lows of parenthood without fear of judgement.
Swann told Pacific Waves that she experienced poor mental health while pregnant and felt like she had nowhere to turn to.
Fiji health advocate highlights challenges
“I had what felt like depression and I did join a support group out of the US with Postpartum Support International and they do incredible work for mums and parents,” she said.
“But I felt like that support group didn’t have that cultural aspect that I was looking for.”
From there, Swann had put out a call on social media to see if anyone wanted to join her support group and the response was immediate.
Since then, Mama Talanoa has gained over 500 women and Swann said it’s encouraging to see the platform has reached not only mothers in Fiji but in other parts of the world too.
Swann said the common concerns among the mothers on Mama Talanoa are mental health struggles which she explained is stigmatised in Fiji and in other Pacific communities.
Prioritising Pacific mothers maternal mental health
The issue of maternal mental health has gained international attention, particularly through an American mum, Lindsay Clancy, whose defence argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when her three children died.
The case has prompted discussions about the mental health challenges mothers could face and whether they were getting adequate support.
Swann said that while Fiji NGOs do their best to refer mothers to counsellors, access to mental health support is generally limited particularly for women who live in rural areas or outer islands.
While the impact of the platform is largely anecdotal, Swann said it’s helped spark more conversations around postpartum depression and policy issues such as maternity leave and breastfeeding support in workplaces – leaving mothers feeling seen and heard.
“We have women saying almost every day, you know, thank you for bringing this up, thank you for allowing us a safe space to talk about these things.”
Supporting parents after loss
Looking beyond maternal mental health support, Swann said one of her key priorities was improving bereavement care for parents. She is planning to meet with Fiji’s health minister to discuss her project.
“One of the things we’d like to do is put a special cot in the local hospital, and to start with one hospital,” she said.
“Hopefully, this will go across the country and this cot will help preserve a deceased baby so that parents can spend time with that baby while they’re still in hospital.”
For Swann, it is about giving families greater dignity and compassion during an incredibly painful time.
As the platform continues to grow, Swann wants Pacific mothers to know that they were not alone, despite facing cultural expectations that they should be strong and push through challenging periods.
Her message to mothers is to be honest about their journey.
“We have this strong feeling of being … this persona that we try to put forward of never be weak, never show weakness, always be strong,” she said.
“That is one of our greatest strengths as Pasifika women, but it can also be one of the things that stops us from getting the mental health care that we need.
“I just want to encourage every mum out there to turn to a friend and share how you’re feeling, or chat with someone that you trust.”
