We are pleased to invite you to the 4th International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa (ICAMMHA) to be held between 4-6th December 2025 in Harare, Zimbabwe. This event will be hybrid.

ICAMMHA, as a flagship mental health conference in Africa, focuses on innovation in Maternal Mental Health in an African context, with emphasis on research and practice. The conference features world-class plenary speeches, distinguished Symposium talks, exhibits, oral and poster sessions, debates, and panels. ICAMMHA is comprised of research papers, special guest speakers, international position papers and best practice abstracts on responses to the call-for-proposals.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS OPEN

Overarching conference theme for ICAMMHA 2025:

“Empowering Mothers: Bridging Mental Health and Maternal Care Across Africa"

High quality abstracts are invited from professional, academic, clinical, strategic, and lived experience perspectives on any topics relating to maternal mental health, including the following: 

1. Mental Health vs. Wellbeing: A Holistic View 

"Beyond Illness: Supporting Mothers’ Emotional & Social Needs" 

For example: 

- Stress vs. depression: Knowing the difference

- Nutrition, sleep, and community ties as mental health boosters

- Traditional healing alongside clinical care 

2. Breaking Stigma & Building Support 

"Why Mothers Suffer in Silence—And How to Change It" 

For example:

- How churches, media, and leaders can reshape attitudes

- Real stories from mothers who have overcome stigma

- Men’s role in supporting maternal mental health 

3. Climate Change & Maternal Mental Health 

"When Droughts and Disasters impact on the mental wellbeing of Mothers”

For example:

- Pregnancy anxiety in climate-vulnerable areas 

- Farming losses, food insecurity, and depression 

- Community-led resilience programmes 

4. Poverty, Inequality & Mental Health

"Can’t Afford to Be Sad? The Money-Mental Health Link" 

For example:

- How unpaid work drains mothers 

- Microfinance paired with counselling 

- Mental health support in urban slums/rural areas 

5. Innovative & Affordable Treatments 

"Healing Without Breaking the Bank" 

For example:

- Using IT to help remote mothers 

- Peer support groups that work 

- Training midwives and community health workers to provide basic mental healthcare 

6. PTSD in African Mothers 

"Trauma Isn’t Just for Soldiers" 

For example:

- Birth trauma, childhood trauma

- Intimate partner violence, violence against women, and refugee experiences 

- Low-cost therapies (storytelling, group counselling, music, art) 

7. Inclusive Care for All Mothers 

"Different Struggles, Equal Support" 

For example:

- Teen moms, LGBTQ+ mothers, and women with disabilities 

- Refugee and migrant mothers’ unique needs 

8. Fathers, Families & Communities 

"It Takes a Village to Raise a Mother" 

For example:

- Fathers get postpartum depression too 

- Grandmothers: Bridging old and new wisdom 

- Youth-led mental health advocacy 

9. Research & Advocacy 

"Turning Data into Action" 

For example:

- African-led studies on maternal mental health 

- Policy tools for decision-makers 

10. Early Parent-Infant Relationships

“Impact & Prevention”

For example:

-Maternal mental health and impact on the baby/child

-Early Interventions & Approached Supporting Positive Parent-Infant Relationships in Africa

11. Maternal mental health – any other topic related to the subject of maternal mental health including family or personal history of mental illness; assessment, diagnosis, symptomatology, treatment of maternal mental health illnesses.

Review Process:

All abstracts will be reviewed and selected based on a definite set of criteria, including:

• Fit to the category.
• Fit to the conference theme.
• Appropriateness of the content to the format of the conference (oral presentation or poster)
• Quality of the research/material presented.
• Potential contribution to policy and practice.

Submission of Abstracts:

Prospective authors are invited to submit abstracts (Up to 400 words) using 1.5 spacing, font 12 New Times Roman.

Submissions should state whether for workshop, symposium, oral, poster and whether for in person or virtual presentation.

Please include your name, email, and organisation (if appropriate) just below the title of your abstract.

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Key dates:

• Call for abstracts opens: April 1st 2025.
• Call for abstracts closes: 30th August 2025 
• Notification of outcomes: from 1st October 2025
• Oral presentations: 3-5th December 2025

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Please submit your abstracts to: TBA