Journeys in Mental Health: ‘Meeting a torn Mum’

In the first ‘Journeys in Mental Health’ blog of 2026, PLOS Mental Health hears from Psychiatrist Dr Hena Jawaid, who has chosen to share her reflections of supporting someone who has been experiencing emotional distress as a result of their child’s substance use. Upon hearing the mother’s account, in which she described her soul as a “sifter/mesh with many holes”, Dr Jawaid was deeply moved and chose to share her reflections with us in the form of poetry.

‘Meeting a torn Mum‘

Dr Hena Jawaid...