New novel sheds light on mental health struggles faced by South African women

In her debut novel, The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women, Michelle Kekana explores the psychological toll of being everything to everyone.
Set in contemporary South Africa, the novel follows three women who begin to fracture under societal and personal pressure. Though fictional, the story reveals the unspoken reality that emotional strength can turn into quiet violence when demanded rather than nurtured.

Kekana’s writing is deeply personal, rooted in her lived experience with depression. She addresses mental health with raw honesty, highlighting how it’s often stigmatised for black South African women, dismissed as weakness, and trivialised until it’s too late. She confronts these taboos through her characters, illuminating the silent suffering behind closed doors and curated smiles.

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The book opens with a powerful moment between a mother and her newborn, filled with confusion rather than bliss. Kekana challenges the romanticised view of motherhood as effortless through Ayanga, a woman struggling to connect with her baby. She explores the heavy, unspoken expectations of motherhood, revealing how the physical trauma of childbirth and psychological demands create a complex narrative that defies conventional portrayals of women and their children.

A central theme in the novel is the damaging ideal of the ‘strong black woman.’ While society presents this stereotype as praise, for Kekana, it feels more like a burden, shaping a culture where women are expected to endure silently and serve selflessly. She shares stories, such as brides expected to clean up after hundreds of guests, highlighting how these expectations, disguised as strength, demand servitude.

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Writing the novel presented emotional challenges, particularly a scene where Ayanga visits her child’s grave for the first time, confronting her grief and guilt. This moment tested the author’s willingness to reveal deep emotional truths. It’s in these vulnerable scenes that the novel gains its power, inviting readers to witness the complexities of mental illness and emotional trauma.

Kekana aims to ignite conversation about mental health, portraying it as a legitimate illness rather than a failing. She encourages readers to view the mind as a part of the body that can falter, just like any organ. Her goal is to break the silence rather than provide answers.

Her writing journey was significantly influenced by her time as a fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study, where she immersed herself in creativity without the distractions of daily life. She humorously likens the experience to a glimpse of male privilege, with someone else handling the cooking and cleaning while she focused on her craft.

As a mother of four, Kekana navigates the constant juggle of responsibilities, recognising that some can be dropped while others, especially her children, cannot. Her background in teaching teenagers has shaped her storytelling, allowing her to appreciate their honesty and struggles with identity. This insight enriches her characters, who often grapple with internal conflicts and the external world.

Kekana, still finding her literary voice, draws inspiration from Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and admires writers such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for their clarity and command. In her novel, The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women, she challenges readers to rethink what we celebrate in women, acknowledge the toll of perpetual resilience, and truly listen when women express their struggles.

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