Mental Health Support

Black Mamas ATX is here to support you before, during, and after your baby is born.
SOOTHE YOUR NERVES

Soothe Your Nerves Anxiety Support Groups

Soothe Your Nerves is a no-cost virtual anxiety support group that draws upon the strength, courage, and culture found in Black Women’s friendship networks. We have adapted this support group from the Soothe Your Nerves book and curriculum that was created by a Black psychologist; Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, to provide Black women with a space to speak their truth, to be heard, embraced, and received in a loving, relatable way that supports, encourages, and empowers. Our current Soothe Your Nerves Anxiety Support Groups are led by Starla Simmons, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and mom of two, along with, Itania Njei a new mom and doula in training.

The Soothe Your Nerves Anxiety Support Group application is now open.

  • Black pregnant and postpartum (up to 18 months) community members are eligiable
  • Active participants also get 8 sponsored individual therapy sessions with Black therapists
  • The opening and closing sessions are in-person.
  • Childcare is provided at in-person sessions.

Apply for the upcoming Soothe Your Nerves Anxiety Support Group Here

Sponsored Therapy

Black Mamas ATX sponsors confidential psychotherapy & counseling with Black therapists for: trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting & relationships, family dynamics, intimate partner violence, spirituality and other concerns. This therapy is available to all Black Mamas ATX clients and to Black clients of other Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (MHEC) organizations, including:

  • Healing Hands Community Doula Project
  • Giving Austin Labor Support
  • Mama Sana Vibrant Woman
  • Partners In Parenting

Resources & Downloads

Brochures

Prenatal Care Tips

While proper prenatal care and screening is important, Black mothers also need the support of fathers, family and the community to ensure a healthy prenatal, birthing and postpartum experience.

Benefits of Doulas

Doulas are non-medical professionals who empower women and their partners to be their own best advocates and provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after pregnancy.

Reading

It’s up to us all to change the maternal mortality rate of black women

It’s up to us all to change the maternal mortality rate of black women

We’re all familiar with the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” When it comes to Black maternal health in the United States, let’s adapt that to create a new African-American proverb, “It takes a village to save Black moms.” The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is rising and Black women bear the brunt of it, but that’s not where our story ends. We all have the power to create a new narrative by supporting new and expecting moms.

UT Students Work to End Maternal Mortality

UT Students Work to End Maternal Mortality

Will Sherratt | Spectrum News AUSTIN, Texas -- Maternal mortality rates are far too high here at home. “It is a persistent problem in Texas and across the United States,” says Parth Gupta, a University of Texas at Austin junior. Texas has high rate of maternal...