Behind The Joy spotlights postpartum psychosis and Black maternal health

Jamal Smart’s award-winning film Behind The Joy is expanding into an education and advocacy campaign as national attention on postpartum psychosis grows. The project centers a Black mother’s mental-health crisis after childbirth and asks why warning signs are so often missed or minimized.

Why it matters: - Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that can include delusions, hallucinations, mania, paranoia and confusion. - The condition is rare, but it can turn dangerous fast and usually starts within the first two weeks after childbirth. - Behind The Joy puts Black maternal mental health at the center of that national conversation. - The film also raises a broader question about whether Black women receive the same urgency, compassion and follow-up when a mental-health crisis emerges after childbirth.

What happened: - Filmmaker Jamal Smart created Behind The Joy as a feature film about postpartum mental illness, stigma and support inside a Black family. - The story follows Naomi, a new mother whose emotional and psychological health deteriorates after childbirth while her partner, family and friends struggle to understand what is happening. - A nurse identifies Naomi as being at high risk for postpartum depression early in the film. - As Naomi’s condition worsens, the audience sees her distorted reality through “Evil Naomi,” a manifestation of frightening thoughts. - Smart says the film is meant to start earlier conversations about maternal mental health in homes, hospitals, schools and communities.

The details: - Behind The Joy is fictional and is not presented as a clinical diagnosis. - The film depicts the escalation of severe postpartum mental illness, including psychosis-like experiences. - The National Institute of Mental Health describes postpartum psychosis as a serious mental illness that requires immediate treatment. - The U.S. Office on Women’s Health says postpartum psychosis occurs in about 1 to 4 out of every 1,000 births. - A 2024 NIH PubMed study found that among people with early postpartum depressive symptoms, non-Hispanic Black respondents were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic White respondents to receive postpartum mental-health care. - Smart said the film is not about excusing harm, but about recognizing warning signs before a family reaches tragedy. - The project has become a maternal-mental-health education and impact initiative since its release. - Behind The Joy has won more than 20 awards and honors, including a Bronze Telly Award and Best Impact Feature recognition. - The film has screened at Hofstra University, Stony Brook University, Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills-supported programming, CUNY’s York College, community events and Rikers Island. - The film has also been used in PhD-level academic work and in training conversations connected with Postpartum Support International. - The New York City Mayor’s Office issued a Certificate of Recognition for the film’s community impact around maternal mental-health awareness. - Fulton County, Georgia, issued a proclamation in July 2026 recognizing Behind The Joy Appreciation Day. - Fulton County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities and Black Girls Mental Health Foundation participated in the Atlanta premiere activation and connected attendees with behavioral-health resources. - The film’s social media links include Instagram and YouTube. - More information is available at BehindTheJoy.com.

Between the lines: - The film is using fiction as a public-health bridge, turning a personal family story into an educational tool. - By focusing on a Black mother, the project pushes into disparities in care and recognition that research suggests remain real after childbirth. - The awards, screenings and institutional partnerships show the film is being treated as both art and advocacy, not just entertainment.

What’s next: - Smart plans to keep using screenings, academic discussions and community partnerships to expand the conversation. - The goal is to help audiences recognize warning signs earlier and connect families to help before a crisis escalates. - The film’s outreach will continue seeking screening opportunities, partnerships and interviews through its website.