\n<\/p>\n
In a major step forward for maternal mental health policy, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH)<\/a> has released a comprehensive 128-page report detailing actionable recommendations, systemic challenges, and aspirational goals to improve mental health outcomes for birthing persons across the state. Developed by an interdisciplinary Maternal Mental Health Workgroup mandated by the 2023\u20132024 state budget, the report offers a two-year blueprint for reform grounded in equity, cultural humility, and lived experience.<\/p>\n Download the Report<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Mental health conditions and substance use are leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in New York [source]<\/a>. Black birthing persons are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts [source]<\/a>, and Hispanic birthing persons often face unacknowledged symptoms due to provider bias [source]<\/a>. Nationally, 75% of postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed and untreated [source]<\/a>.<\/p>\n The report emphasizes that maternal mental health is not just a clinical issue\u2014it\u2019s a public health imperative with deep social, racial, and economic dimensions.<\/p>\n The Workgroup\u2019s recommendations span a broad range of interconnected domains, each offering concrete steps that can be implemented within two years using existing resources.<\/p>\n 1. Project TEACH Expansion<\/strong> 2. Collaborative Care Medicaid Program<\/strong> 3. Dyadic Care<\/strong> 4. Workforce Development<\/strong> 5. Public Awareness & Education<\/strong> 6. Screening & Referral<\/strong> 7. Peer Support & Doulas<\/strong> 8. Treatment & Care Coordination<\/strong> 9. Data & Quality Improvement<\/strong> 10. Coverage & Benefits<\/strong> Beyond immediate recommendations, the report outlines longer-term goals requiring additional resources: The report\u2019s findings underscore the need for: The Workgroup calls for a shift from cultural competence to cultural humility, emphasizing ongoing reflection, collaboration, and respect for lived experience.<\/p>\n To advance these recommendations, TOMH and Behavioral Health News are co-hosting a two-part virtual roundtable series featuring expert panelists in treatment, research, lived experience, and policy.<\/p>\n Thursday, November 13th\u00a0 |\u00a0 1:00 \u2013 3:30 PM (EST)<\/p>\n Register Here: https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_QbS9jzDmT3KAaWQ9XV3sBw<\/a><\/p>\n Overview: Hosted by the NYS Office of Mental Health and Behavioral Health News, this first roundtable will provide attendees with a focused learning experience on perinatal mental health. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including prevalence rates and real-world examples illustrating their impact. The session will also examine various forms of mental health stigma\u2014such as public, self, and structural stigma\u2014as they relate to maternal mental health, with concrete examples from clinical and community settings. Finally, attendees will leave equipped with practical strategies for reducing stigma in maternal mental health environments and improving access to care and support services for birthing persons.<\/p>\n Thursday, November 20th\u00a0 |\u00a0 1:00 \u2013 3:30 PM (EST)<\/p>\n Register Here: https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_whnI_8GRSAGYu9X3mmxcIA<\/a><\/p>\n Overview: Hosted by the NYS Office of Mental Health and Behavioral Health News, this second roundtable will focus on evidence-based approaches to perinatal mental health care. Attendees will learn to identify at least three program models for treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and understand key features that distinguish each. The session will also examine how mental health stigma affects help-seeking behavior and clinical outcomes in maternal health. Finally, participants will explore intervention strategies proven to reduce stigma in perinatal populations and consider how these approaches can be applied in their own clinical or community settings.<\/p>\n Psychologists and Social Workers: Earn 2.5 FREE CEUs at each roundtable! To earn CEUs, you must attend for the full duration with the video on and your full name visible in the participant window.<\/p>\n This report is more than a policy document\u2014it\u2019s a call to action. It invites providers, policymakers, advocates, and communities to reimagine maternal mental health care as inclusive, equitable, and person-centered.<\/p>\n As New York leads the way, let us ensure that every birthing person\u2014regardless of race, income, or identity\u2014has access to the care, support, and dignity they deserve.<\/p>\n New York State Programs and Resources<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Project TEACH<\/a><\/p>\n HealthySteps Program<\/a><\/p>\n NYS Collaborative Care Medicaid Program<\/a><\/p>\n NYS OMH PSYCKES System<\/a><\/p>\n Postpartum Resource Center of New York<\/a><\/p>\n Nurse-Family Partnership<\/a><\/p>\n Healthy Families NY<\/a><\/p>\n NY Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Waiver<\/a><\/p>\n National and Other State Initiatives<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Postpartum Support International<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts MCPAP for Moms<\/a><\/p>\n Hushabye Nursery (Arizona)<\/a><\/p>\n The Blue Dot Project<\/a><\/p>\n Hear Her Campaign (CDC)<\/a><\/p>\n SAMHSA Guide for Under-Resourced Populations<\/a><\/p>\n Training and Education<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\nWhy Maternal Mental Health Matters<\/h2>\n
Key Recommendations: A Blueprint for Action<\/h2>\n
\u2013 Promote training for OB-GYNs, pediatricians, and behavioral health providers.
\u2013 Make psychiatric consultations billable under Medicaid.
\u2013 Strengthen referral networks and CME-accredited education.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Expand behavioral health integration into OB-GYN practices.
\u2013 Promote co-location of services and rapid referrals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Scale up the HealthySteps program statewide.
\u2013 Support parent-child bonding through integrated care models.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Train 988 crisis counselors in maternal mental health.
\u2013 Incorporate lived experience into clinical education.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Launch stigma-reduction campaigns via OMH\u2019s COPE bureau.
\u2013 Use social media to amplify voices of lived experience.
\u2013 Publish a dedicated issue of Behavioral Health News on maternal mental health.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Promote validated tools that address the full spectrum of PMADs.
\u2013 Encourage screening in non-traditional settings like daycares and home visits.
\u2013 Advocate for reimbursement parity across insurance types.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Scale peer support programs, especially for vulnerable populations.
\u2013 Promote Medicaid doula benefits and explore private coverage options.
\u2013 Train doulas in harm reduction and overdose education.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Expand access to intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs.
\u2013 Promote culturally responsive care in community-based settings.
\u2013 Support triage pathways for high-acuity cases.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Leverage Medicaid and EMR data to identify high-risk birthing persons.
\u2013 Use PSYCKES to track behavioral health outcomes and referrals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum care to one year.
\u2013 Advocate for paid leave, workplace accommodations, and mental wellness benefits.
\u2013 Promote parity in telehealth reimbursement.<\/p>\nConsiderations and Aspirations<\/h2>\n
\u2013 Create a dedicated OMH bureau for maternal mental health.
\u2013 Pilot mother-baby inpatient psychiatric units.
\u2013 Expand peer support into prenatal care.
\u2013 Offer loan forgiveness for perinatal behavioral health professionals.
\u2013 Develop culturally humble screening tools validated for diverse populations.<\/p>\nImplications for Policy and Practice<\/h2>\n
\u2013 Culturally relevant care that addresses structural racism and stigma.
\u2013 Community-based interventions that meet birthing persons where they are.
\u2013 Integrated care models that treat mental health as inseparable from physical health.
\u2013 Policy reform that removes punitive barriers to care\u2014especially for substance use.<\/p>\nCall to Action: Join the Conversation<\/h2>\n
Roundtable 1: Understanding Maternal Mental Health and Stigma<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Roundtable 2: Maternal Mental Health Support Programs and Solutions to Overcome Stigma<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Conclusion: A Turning Point for Maternal Mental Health<\/h2>\n
Key Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n