A new documentary is on the way soon (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Louis Theroux has announced his new BBC documentary will spotlight postnatal mental health, which will be released in May.

Titled Mothers On The Edge, Theroux’s new documentary will see him spend time in two specialist psychiatric units which treat mothers suffering from serious mental illness, while enabling them to be with their babies.

The women in question are treated for a number of conditions triggered by motherhood or childbirth, including depression, psychosis, and anxiety.

Speaking about the documentary, Theroux said: ‘Postpartum mental illness, like many aspects of mental health, is all too common and not acknowledged enough.


Louis Theroux’s previous documentary was The Night In Question (Picture: BBC)

‘We as a society do so much to celebrate new motherhood and to romanticise the relationship between new mothers and their babies, for understandable reasons.



‘But the sad fact is, for many mums, their experience of having a baby is traumatic and they don’t experience Hallmark Card feelings of love.’

Speaking about the women who spoke to him for the film, Theroux added: ‘They bared a great deal of their souls and risked the judgment of less understanding elements of society.

‘Their bravery and candour is awe inspiring, and it was a privilege to be invited into their families during a most vulnerable period in their lives.’

Mothers On The Edge follows his previous documentary The Night In Question, which explored issues of sexual assault in US colleges.

Louis Theroux’s Mothers On The Edge airs on BBC Two in May.

MORE: Louis Theroux’s The Night In Question reminded me my feelings towards my abusers aren’t black and white

MORE: The Night in Question: How Louis Theroux became the victim of his own documentary when he met Saifullah Khan