Mathira on the challenges single mothers face

Actor reveals her struggles with postpartum depression were largely dismissed

In a recent interview with a local channel, television host, model, and mother-of-three Mathira opened up about the pressures and traumas she faced while navigating life as a single parent after her divorce in 2018. She shed light on the strength she found in her children.

Mathira expressed that her three sons have been her greatest source of support, describing how she had to adopt both maternal and paternal roles in their upbringing. She explained, “When the relationship with the father fizzles out completely it’s up to the mother to take on the man’s role. To be a man, for a woman that’s not her job. But when she becomes a man, she becomes stronger than a man.”

The model also highlighted the double standards present in society, pointing out the stark differences in how single mothers and fathers are perceived. “When a single mother does something, instead of praising her, they wonder how many others were behind the scenes helping her. When a man does something good, we appreciate him, but when a woman is running a household, there are too many accusations against her,” said Mathira. She poignantly added, “It gets very tough and then she’s not able to be a good mother or take on the role of a father.”

She also revealed the severe depression she experienced after her third pregnancy, a struggle that society largely ignored, occasionally shamed and dismissed as insignificant. “I think now people are getting the education that there is such a thing as depression - as postpartum depression - and hormones,” she noted, emphasising the need for greater understanding of mental health issues.