Meet Taijah bell | licensed therapist specializing in maternal mental health

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taijah bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taijah, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for ‘Moms Mental Matters came from a deeply personal place. I was working for a company providing psychotherapy and the majority of my clients assigned to me were mothers, this was not intentional, I noticed a trend—so many amazing moms struggling with the weight of motherhood and it was impacting their mental health. It hit close to home because I’d battled postpartum depression after losing my sister during my first pregnancy. It was tough, and it made me wonder how many others out there felt the same way. I did some research and learned that 15% of mothers were suffering from postpartum depression and black women were 2x more likely to suffer. The rates of women committing suicide broke my heart and then I had That ‘aha’ moment struck and I remember saying to myself omg I have to do something. I needed to create a space for us, a place for raw, real talks about mental health motherhood and a place that normalizes therapy as part of your pregnancy journey for mothers that have the risk factors for postpartum depression so that I can help mothers get ahead of it. I immediately put together a panel discussion on postpartum depression and the response during and after the panel was amazing. I realized just how much conversations about maternal mental health are needed. And that’s how Moms Mental Matters was born. Soon after we became a nonprofit organization, and began hosting support groups and panel discussions and that’s how my organization was born.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

At Moms Mental Matters, our mission is deeply rooted in supporting mothers through every phase of their journey—from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. We’re not just about offering therapy; we’re here to provide a safe space where mothers can be authentically vulnerable and gain the essential tools to thrive in their roles. I do this not only through therapy but through education. This year I have presented at conferences, spoke on panels, hosted panels and support groups all with the purpsoe of educating mothers on the impacts of mental health on motherhood. Motherhood is a beautiful yet overwhelming journey, and I firmly believe that to give our best to our families, we need to prioritize our mental well-being. What sets us apart is our comprehensive approach. While many focus solely on postpartum depression, we acknowledge that the challenges of motherhood stretch across various stages—conception, pregnancy, loss, caring for children with special needs, juggling demanding jobs, and more. I’m immensely proud of the support groups we’ve created. These sessions foster an environment where women uplift each other, share advice, and leave feeling heard, seen, and supported. Witnessing the impact these support groups have had on mothers’ lives fuels my passion for creating these safe spaces. Now, the journey here hasn’t been a walk in the park. Balancing being a mom and an entrepreneur presents its own set of challenges. Yet, reflecting on the strides made within just a year is incredibly motivating. The success stories of helping moms manage stress, find balance, advocate for their needs, and transform their perspective on self-care have been monumental. Another proud moment is the creation and release of my guided journal “Cultivate Joy the ultimate self-care Guided Journal for black and brown moms”’. This is a journal I created to empower black mothers to prioritize self-care and to stop looking at it as a reward or something that is earned and to start viewing self-care as something we are entitled to and that is a necessity for our well-being. My aunt’s words during tough times resonate deeply she said “Helping even one person means I’m making a difference”, so while being an entrepreneur has its challenges her words have kept me grateful and striving. If I could touch on a challenge it would be the challenge of funding. The goal is to be able to provide free therapy for black women as we are the most impacted by perinatal mood disorder but access to funds for my nonprofit has been challenging. What I want the world to know about Moms Mental Matters is that our therapy services cater to all mothers. We acknowledge the diverse struggles mothers face throughout their journey, and we aim to be there every step of the way. It’s not just about addressing postpartum; it’s about supporting mental well-being across all facets of motherhood.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To be honest I’ve only been in Georgia for two years and I haven’t explored that much, I’m an NYC girl so I don’t have a ton of recommendations BUT I do like to eat lol. My go-to places are milk and Honey you have to get the seafood sensation for breakfast it’s hash browns, crab meat, shrimp, and tomatoes in this cream sauce my other go-to place is breakfast at Tiffany’s they have the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had. The high museum is a vibe on the first Friday of every month they have frequency Fridays with music, art, small bites, and drinks. Outside of eating I haven’t been to many exciting places I’m introverted and I love being home, going to the spa, or going on a vacation so I still have a lot of exploring to do myself.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe a huge shoutout to my best friend for opening my eyes to the maternal health crisis. Witnessing her pregnancy journey and the discussions we had along the way about this crisis truly educated me. Thanks to her passion for this cause that I delved deeper into understanding and advocating for maternal mental health. Our friendship isn’t just about laughs; it’s a bond rooted in mutual learning and teaching—one where we uplift and educate each other. She deserves immense credit for sparking this journey of awareness and action

Website: www.momsmentalmatters.org

Instagram: @momsmentalmatters

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taijah-bell-lmsw-pmh-947747126

Other: purchase journal https://www.taijahbelltherapygroup.com/store/journals

Image Credits
Jayda Bell