FROM MMHLA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
This past weekend, I lost my 25-year-old nephew to suicide. He dealt with depression for several years, but seemed to be doing better recently.
I share this information as a reminder that no family is immune to mental health challenges, and that it is essential to remind our loved ones, especially those living with mental illness, how special and important they are to us.
When I experienced postpartum depression 20 years ago, I remember thinking that I was a burden to my family and that they would be better off without me. We often hear similar sentiments from those considering or attempting suicide.
Nothing is further from the truth.
The hole left in our lives because of suicide is a loss we experience forever.
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PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH:
IMPACT ON INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
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Untreated perinatal mental health disorders can have long-term
negative impact on both the parent and the baby.
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IMPACT ON PARENT
Parents with untreated PMH disorders are more likely to:
✦ Not manage their own health
✦ Have poor nutrition; use substances
✦ Be less responsive to baby's cues
✦ Have breastfeeding challenges
✦ Question their competence as parents
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IMPACT ON CHILD
Children born to parents with untreated PMH disorders are at higher risk for:
✦ Low birth weight or small head size
✦ Pre-term birth
✦ Longer stay in the NICU
✦ Excessive crying
✦ Impaired parent-child interaction
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Untreated mental health issues in the home can result in an
Adverse Childhood Experience,
which can impact the long-term mental and physical health of the child.
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Parents who are depressed or anxious are more likely to: | | | |
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✦ Make more trips to the ER or doctor's office.
✦ Find it particularly challenging to manage chronic illness.
✦ Not follow guidance for safe infant sleep or car seat
usage.
Download MMHLA's Fact Sheet for citations / resources.
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The Earliest is a 4-part podcast from
ZERO TO THREE that takes a deep look
into mental health in the earliest years of life, exploring pregnancy, birth, trauma, and well-being. Learn why and how early bonds and connections form, and why they are so important.
LEARN MORE
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DATA ON MATERNAL DEPRESSION SCREENING | |
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The first set of U.S. maternal depression screening data is available,
with screening in pregnancy and postpartum reported at less than 20%.
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The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set® (HEDIS®) is a national measurement set that assesses how well Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial
health insurance plans manage the care of their enrolled populations.
HEDIS added measures for screening for depression during pregnancy and postpartum in 2019, and the first set of data from 2021 is now available.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force gives the same grade level ("B") recommendation for screening for gestational diabetes as for screening for depression. Gestational diabetes impacts only 6% of pregnant people, yet almost all are screened.
Meanwhile, mental health issues are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, impacting at least 20% of pregnant or postpartum people, and suicide and overdose are the leading cause of maternal mortality.
However, screening rates remain astonishingly low.
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SCREENING RATES FOR DEPRESSION
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THOUGHTS FROM MMHLA LEADERSHIP
WE MUST DO BETTER.
All pregnant and postpartum people, and their partners, should be educated about and screened for mental health conditions during pregnancy and the year following pregnancy, and have access to resources for recovery.
Recent data from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
show unequivocally that mental health conditions,
resulting in suicide and overdose,
are the leading cause of death for women in the perinatal timeframe.
Maternal mental health conditions are relatively easy to diagnose, prevent,
and treat. More resources are available than ever before, including the
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS),
as well as toolkits and guidance from the following medical governing bodies:
➤ American Academy of Family Physicians (LINK)
➤ American Academy of Pediatrics (LINK)
➤ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (LINK)
See more resources on MMHLA's website.
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SCREENING FOR MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT AN OPTION.
IT IS AN OBLIGATION.
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PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION & SCREENING PROJECT | |
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In January 2022, MMHLA and the March of Dimes launched the Perinatal Mental Health Education & Screening Project, a year-long multi-disciplinary collaborative effort aimed at synthesizing screening recommendations from a variety of medical organizations into a suggested framework focused specifically on WHEN to provide patient education and screening for perinatal mental health. Next steps will
focus on addressing barriers to patient education and screening.
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THE LATEST ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION | |
Two experts in reproductive psychiatry report the many changes and challenges women face during and following pregnancy. | |
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CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING:
PREGNANT & LACTATING PEOPLE IN RESEARCH
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WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Historically, pregnant and lactating women have been excluded from clinical trials. Federal policies from the 1970s banned the participation of “women of childbearing age” in research; thus, researchers largely relied upon male participants for studies, critically limiting our knowledge base. During this
virtual congressional briefing and national webinar, panelists will review
ethical considerations surrounding inclusion of pregnant and lactating
women in research, how to ensure the appropriate inclusion of these populations, and the current state of this type of inclusion in research,
both within the federal government and the corporate sector.
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WEBINAR: MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD | |
DECEMBER 7 / 1-2:30 PM ET | |
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An international panel of maternal mental health experts discuss the global mental health crisis and international response,
hosted by The Motherhood Center of New York.
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PANELISTS
UNITED STATES: Adrienne Griffen, Executive Director, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
SOUTH AFRICA: Dr. Lavinia Lumu, Specialist Psychiatrist - Private practice, Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital, Johannesburg, President-elect of International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health
INDIA: Dr. Prabha Chandra, Dean of Faculty, Behavioral Sciences Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
ECUADOR, COSTA RICA: Silvia Herrero Rodriguez, Postpartum Support International, Country Coordinator
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Success has no age limit: Forbes Magazine recently recognized women over age 50 who are leaders in their fields. | |
Women from a wide variety of fields and disciplines were honored by Forbes, including these champions representing maternal-child health, mental health, and birth equity. | |
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DIANA BIANCHI, MD
Director
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute of Child Health and Human Development
LEARN MORE
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LINDA GOLER BLOUNT, MPH
President & CEO
Black Women's
Health Imperative
LEARN MORE
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MARSHA LINEHAN, PhD, ABPP
Author & Director Emeritus
Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics
University of Washington
LEARN MORE
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KATHERINE WISNER, MD
Director
Asher Center for the Study
and Treatment of Depression
LEARN MORE
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NATIONAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE | |
Health Affairs Journal Seeks Articles on Racism and Health
The October 2023 issue of Health Affairs will focus on racism and health.
Abstracts are due December 19. LEARN MORE
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Focuses on Maternal Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield's "Health of America" series has curated a series of reports, articles, stories, and resources about maternal health. LEARN MORE
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LaSaludMental.org: New Spanish-Language Website
The American Psychiatric Association recently launched LaSaludMental.org, a website hosting Spanish-language information and resources on mental health issues that are culturally competent and evidence-based. LaSaludMental.org is tailored to a Spanish-speaking audience, but provides content in both Spanish and English. LEARN MORE
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The Invisible Weight: Research and Podcast About the Emotional Experience of Pregnancy
This research report and podcast is the result of a 9 month study into the emotional experience of pregnancy – the "Invisible Weight" – and how the U.S healthcare system fares under the needs of that weight. This story is told through the voices of pregnant Americans and experts on the frontlines of care. LEARN MORE
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"As the gusty winds bow and shake our lives
if we know that people care about us,
we may bend with the wind, but we won't break."
— Fred Rogers ("Mr. Rogers")
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Building Partnerships
Advocating for Change
Curating Information
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Our vision is universal and equitable education, prevention, screening, and treatment for maternal mental health conditions during pregnancy and year following pregnancy. | | | | | |
