Spotlight:

California Surgeon General Addressed Maternal Mental Health at Marin Communications Forum on May 2nd

First 5 Marin was proud to welcome Dr. Diana Ramos, the California Surgeon General, as the keynote speaker for the Marin Communications Forum on May 2nd. The forum was dedicated to "Maternal Mental Health Month."

Dr. Ramos opened by declaring that "the best investment to ensure the health of a newborn is to ensure the health of the mother."

She reported that every five days, a mother in California loses her life to pregnancy-related complications. 23% of perinatal deaths (from pregnancy up to one-year post-partum) were due to mental health conditions including overdose and suicide. As has been widely reported, the maternal mortality rates are 3-to-6 times higher for Black women.

Dr. Ramos declared that 84% of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable.

ACEs and Reproductive Health - Dr. Ramos shared that people with high scores for ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) are at greater risk for:

*unintended pregnancy

*teen pregnancy/paternity

*sexually transmitted infections

*partner violence/victimization

*use if illicit substances during pregnancy, and more...

She also reported that pregnant women with depression are at an increased risk of pregnancy loss, pre-term delivery and a low birth-weight baby; the statistics are even worse for Black women.

In California, 48% of deaths occur on the day of delivery (23%) or within one week (25%)-- which certainly underscores the need for doulas and friend/family care during and after the birth of a baby.

ACEs in Marin County - Dr. Ramos reported that 18% of adults in Marin have experienced four or more ACEs. The most common issues were: emotional abuse; death of a parent or parental separation/divorce; and mental illness in the household. Other issues were: substance misuse in the household; physical abuse; sexual abuse; and intimate partner violence.

Positive Childhood Experiences - Dr. Ramos also talked about the importance of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) to buffer adversity and improve adult mental health. Those experiences may include: the ability to talk to family about feelings or sense that family is supportive; the feeling of belonging in high school and having supportive friends; feeling save and protected by an adult in the home or having at least one non-parent adult who genuinely cared. (In Marin, 38% of adults had 6-to-7 PCEs.)

For more information and links to resources including new mental health apps, visit the Surgeon General's website: www.osg.ca.gov. [The video of the May 2nd forum is available from First 5 Marin; email Michelle@First5Marin.org for the link.]

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***SAVE-THE-DATE for the next Marin Communications Forum:

Newcomer Immigrants and Unaccompanied Minors in Marin

Thursday, June 6th - 10 to 11:30 a.m.

[Free online forum; RSVP to Michelle@First5Marin.org.]