New York State has released its first report on maternal mental health, outlining the challenges faced by pregnant women and providing recommendations for statewide improvements. The report was prepared by the Maternal Mental Health Workgroup, led by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), and includes strategies such as enhanced provider training, improved screening procedures, expanded use of doulas and peer support programs, specialized training for 988 crisis counselors, and a call to broaden the Collaborative Care Medicaid Program.
Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the initiative: “As New York’s first Mom-Governor, this is personal for me — and I’ll never stop working to ensure that pregnant women across our state have the support and resources they need. Our report and ongoing efforts will help ensure all New Yorkers have access to critical mental health supports that improve outcomes for pregnant women and their children — especially among populations most at risk.”
The OMH has allocated $850,000 in funding to assist OBGYN and family medicine practices in providing behavioral health support to perinatal patients. This funding is intended to expand psychiatric collaborative care models in up to 17 practices across the state. The goal is to increase screening and treatment for perinatal depression while addressing racial disparities in care.
Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of OMH, stated: “Robust prenatal and postpartum supports can have a tremendous impact on outcomes for our families. This report shows areas where improvement is needed in our state and starts the discussion on how to best address inequities that are placing some New Yorkers at greater risk. Governor Hochul’s continued focus on maternal mental health is helping us chart a course to better support and improve outcomes for pregnant women statewide.”
The OMH will also host two virtual roundtable discussions with Behavioral Health News focusing on reducing stigma around maternal mental health. These sessions are scheduled for November 13th and November 20th.
Dr. James McDonald, New York State Health Commissioner, said: “Bringing a new life into the world is a time filled with joy, excitement and hope, but it can also be an overwhelming experience that no parent should face alone. This report shines a light on the real experiences of pregnant women across our state and reminds us that caring for parents’ mental health is caring for families as a whole. I thank Governor Hochul for continuing to build a system that listens, supports and uplifts every person giving birth during this important stage of life.”
State Senator Samra Brouk highlighted legislative efforts behind these initiatives: “The number one most common pregnancy complication facing one in five birthing people is a maternal mental health condition. As Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I recognize that in New York State, maternal mental health conditions are the third leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths — that’s why I introduced legislation to create the Maternal Mental Health Workgroup, and got it passed in the State Budget. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and the legislature for investing $250,000 to support this workgroup and releasing this report to focus on disparities in care for postpartum mothers to help solve our maternal health crisis.”
Assemblymember Sarah Clark added: “Today’s announcement is a crucial step toward improving maternal mental health outcomes across our state. When I championed legislation for a maternal mental health working group in the Assembly along with Senator Samra Brouk, this was one of the results we were fighting for, a significant commitment to understanding the challenges faced by the most vulnerable in our communities. Creating a clear plan ensures everyone going through labor and delivery in New York will be uniquely seen and supported and will have access to any needed mental health supports. As a mom of three, I know firsthand how mental health struggles after birth can be hard to identify let alone treat. We can and must do more for moms. Thank you to Governor Hochul for your commitment to this crucial cause.”
Nationally about one out of five pregnant women experience perinatal mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy or within their first year postpartum; however about three-quarters go undiagnosed or untreated which may result in serious consequences including high-risk pregnancies or poor child development.
Black pregnant women are particularly affected by these issues; they face more than double risk compared with white peers regarding pregnancy-related death rates nationwide—while non-Hispanic Black pregnant women living in New York are about five times more likely than white counterparts locally.
To address these disparities under Governor Hochul’s leadership there has been an expansion of Project TEACH so additional front-line practitioners—including therapists lactation consultants WIC staff home visiting nurses—can offer relevant support services throughout pregnancy/postpartum periods while HealthySteps now operates at 125 sites integrating behavioral specialists into pediatric practices statewide.
