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Louis Theroux reveals new documentary about postnatal mental health

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

From Digital Spy

Louis Theroux has revealed details of his next BBC documentary, focusing on the topic of postnatal mental health.

Titled Mothers on the Edge, the special will follow the filmmaker as he talks to women suffering with mental illness triggered by giving birth or the struggles of motherhood. It's something that is said to affect 1 in 10 mothers before their child's first birthday.

Speaking about the project, Louis said in a statement: "Postpartum mental illness, like many aspects of mental health, is all too common and not acknowledged enough.

Photo credit: BBC/Richard Ansett
Photo credit: BBC/Richard Ansett

"We as a society do so much to celebrate new motherhood and to romanticise the relationship between new mothers and their babies, for understandable reasons. But the sad fact is, for many mums, their experience of having a baby is traumatic and they don’t experience Hallmark card feelings of love."

In the hour-long documentary, he will visit two specialist psychiatric units in the UK, where mothers live there with their babies while undergoing treatment.

"The women we featured in this film took a huge leap of faith in opening up and speaking to me," he added.

Photo credit: BBC/Richard Ansett
Photo credit: BBC/Richard Ansett

"They bared a great deal of their souls and risked the judgement of less understanding elements of society. Their bravery and candour is awe-inspiring, and it was a privilege to be invited into their families during a most vulnerable period in their lives.

"I hope this film will go some way to helping normalise postpartum mental illness and stimulate a discussion on how we can best care for mothers at the time they need it the most."

The documentary-maker most recently made a film about sexual assault, and while promoting it he gave his opinions on the allegations against Michael Jackson.

Louis Theroux's Mothers on the Edge will be shown on BBC Two in May.


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