Perinatal Mental Health: The Need For Broader Understanding And Policies That Meet The Challenges.

Journal: Health affairs (Project Hope)

Volume: 43

Issue: 4

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Emily C. Dossett, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. Alison Stuebe, University of North at Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Twylla Dillion, HealthConnect One, Chicago, Illinois. Karen M. Tabb (ktabb@illinois.edu), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois.

Abstract summary 

Perinatal mental health is gaining recognition as a key antecedent of adverse maternal and child outcomes as the United States experiences a maternal mortality and morbidity crisis. Recent policy efforts have attempted to mitigate adverse outcomes through legislation such as the Taskforce Recommending Improvements for Unaddressed Mental Perinatal and Postpartum Health (TRIUMPH) for New Moms Act of 2021 and postpartum coverage through Medicaid expansion. Even with progress, perinatal mental health policy continues to grapple with a basic truth: The United States lacks an overarching health care system capable of meeting the mental health care needs of perinatal people and their families.  Moreover, the burden of undiagnosed and untreated perinatal mental health challenges remains greatest among racially minoritized populations, such as Black, Asian, and multiracial people. A broader understanding of perinatal mental health is needed, grounded in the tenets of reproductive justice. From this perspective, we articulate specific policies to meet perinatal mental health challenges and promote thriving for birthing people and their families.

Authors & Co-authors:  Dossett Stuebe Dillion Tabb

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01455
SSN : 1544-5208
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States