On May 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of their National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care (PDF, 3.53MB)opens in new window with an accompanying report to Congress (PDF, 2.41MB)opens in new window. The strategy was developed by the Task Force on Maternal Mental Healthopens in new window, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Advisory Committee for Women’s Services, to address the urgent public health crisis of maternal mental health and substance use issues. The national strategy is a part of broader federal effort to address women’s overall health, consistent with the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis (PDF, 913KB)opens in new window and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Researchopens in new window, on which APA Services also provided recommendations.
APA Services submitted recommendations to the task force advocating for public education on the difference between various perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; providing culturally competent training and care by diversifying the perinatal workforce, addressing language barriers, and developing culturally tailored tools; and addressing barriers to evidence-based intervention for maternal mental health and substance use disorders (SUD) among reproductive-age individuals.
The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. Deaths from suicide, drug overdoses, and other causes related to mental health and substance use issues are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., accounting for more than 22% of those deaths. An estimated 1 in 5 individuals are impacted by mental health conditions–including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and postpartum psychosis–and substance use disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period and disproportionately affect Black and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals and others in under-resourced communities.
Task force recommendations include:
- building a national infrastructure that prioritizes perinatal mental health and well-being, which includes promoting care models from multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams that integrate perinatal care and mental health and SUD care with holistic support for mother–infant dyads and their families
- making care and services accessible, affordable, and equitable
- using data and research to improve outcomes and accountability
- promoting prevention and engagement, education, and partnership with communities
- lifting up lived experience, which includes listening to the perspectives and voices of people with lived experience and prioritizing their recommendations
The work of the task force will continue until September 30, 2027. APA Services will work with the task force and weigh in on the importance of psychology in maternal mental health as they release subsequent reports and implement their recommendations.
For more information, contact Krysta Jones.
