Maternal mental health
Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and the year following pregnancy.
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) states that PMH conditions include mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and substance use disorders. Perinatal individuals will see a frontline healthcare provider (obstetric, pediatric, or primary care provider) 20-25 times during a routine pregnancy and first year of baby’s life, providing ample opportunity for these providers to detect and address PMH conditions.
Are you screening your perinatal patients for depression?
Women should be screened:
✓ Every trimester during pregnancy.
✓ All obstetric and pediatric visits the first year following pregnancy.
Depression screening:
Inform your patients that depression is common in perinatal women and is now a standard screening throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) (PDF)
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) has compiled a Mental Health Overview fact sheet.
1 in 5 Mothers are Impacted by Mental Health Conditions
Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions are the MOST COMMON Complication of pregnancy and birth, affecting 800,000 families each year in the U.S.1,2
Most Individuals are Untreated Increasing Risk of Negative Impacts
75% of individuals impacted by MMH conditions REMAIN UNTREATED, increasing the risk of long-term negative impacts on mothers, babies, and families.4
Mental Health Conditions are the Leading Cause of Maternal Deaths
Suicide and overdose are the LEADING CAUSE of death for women in the first year following pregnancy.3
In Florida, drug-related deaths are the leading cause of death
(1 in 4) for women during pregnancy
and through one year postpartum.
Are you screening your perinatal patients for a substance use disorder?
Women are at highest risk for developing a substance use disorder (SUD) during their reproductive years.
Women who are pregnant or soon to become pregnant are at increased risk. Early, universal screenings for substance use and perinatal mood disorders are an essential component of prenatal care.
The Florida Hospital Association is trying to find ways to reduce maternal mortality specifically from drug overdoses. A committee was put together to analyze maternal deaths in the state and have found an increase every year since 2016. The committee identified drug overdoses as a major contributor to deaths in women before and soon after giving birth. More women in Florida die from drug-related deaths than all maternal complications combined.
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance
Information and research on critical topics and helpful resources in maternal mental health
How to help
- Every pregnant patient should be screened prenatally and on delivery admission with a validated substance use disorder (SUD)/OUD screening tool.
- A Plan of Safe care should be developed in collaboration with multiple community partners.
- Key risk reduction strategies for pregnant and postpartum patients with OUD (Start Medication-Assisted Treatment [MAT], link to a recovery program, and provide naloxone [Narcan]).