Postpartum mental health challenges are often hidden behind societal expectations of joy and fulfillment. Conditions like postpartum psychosis and postpartum depression affect many new mothers, bringing with them fear, disconnection, and overwhelming struggles that go unspoken.

Postpartum depression impacts 1 in 7 mothers, causing persistent sadness, fatigue, and guilt. Postpartum psychosis, rarer but more severe, manifests as hallucinations and paranoia in 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 births. Both conditions profoundly affect parents, children, and families, often worsened by stigma and fear of judgment.

Elizabeth Sankey’s incisive documentary Witches (2024) reframes this experience through the lens of her intimate journey with postpartum psychosis. The film intertwines her story with historical and cinematic depictions of witches, exploring how society has long labeled struggling mothers “monstrous.” Sankey draws powerful parallels between the persecution of women in medieval witch trials and the stigma surrounding maternal mental health today.

What sets Witches apart is its emphasis on healing through connection. Sankey recounts how a support group of women with similar experiences became her lifeline. This “coven” offered empathy and validation that medicine alone couldn’t provide, reminding her she wasn’t broken—just human. This portrayal of collective healing resonates with my work in decolonizing science, where I explore how Indigenous healing traditions from the global majority emphasize community care—practices often overlooked by modern Western medicine.

Witches is more than a narrative of survival; it’s a call to action for compassionate, community-centered mental health care. Peer support, open dialogue, and systemic reform are essential to addressing these often-silent crises. As Sankey beautifully demonstrates, healing isn’t just about treatment—it’s about rewriting stigmatizing narratives and finding strength in communities.

The film is now streaming on MUBI—a must-watch for those committed to transforming mental health care.