Maternal mental health has a significant impact on the health and well-being of both
mothers and their children. Yet despite the prevalence and severity of unmet maternal mental
health needs, mental health is often overlooked as a national health priority, and this seems
particularly true in low and middle income countries (LAMICs). Pregnancy and childbirth
provide a unique entry point for evaluation and prevention of mental health problems with
women, children and their families as part of their regular care. Training the community
members who ordinarily assist new mothers to detect mental health problems and provide mental
health education could improve well-being and facilitate an approach to mental health as a
family and community-wide issue. In this chapter, we review what is known about maternal
mental health in LAMICs and, in particular, in Rwanda. We then review the success of
community/peer support (again with an emphasis on LAMICs) as a way to reduce the impact of
maternal depression on women and their children, reflect on the meaning of community support
and maternal depression for women in Rwanda and consider Rwandan notions of individual and
community resilience.