On the heels of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of a national strategy to address maternal mental health and substance use issues. During the perinatal period, an estimated one in five individuals are impacted by mental health conditions and substance use disorders, which are the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., accounting for more than 22% of those deaths.
The National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care is accompanied by a Report to Congress as a part of broader federal efforts to address women’s overall health, and maternal health in particular, across the nation, consistent with the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
The national strategy includes recommendations developed by the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Advisory Committee for Women’s Services. The strategy includes five core pillars that address essential needs, including building a national perinatal mental health infrastructure with a focus on reducing disparities; making care and services accessible, affordable, and equitable; using data and research to improve outcomes and accountability; promoting prevention and partnering with communities; and lifting up the voices of people with lived experience.
This report could not be timelier, as maternal and child health programs across the country grapple with the twin crises of perinatal overdose and suicide in their states. AMCHP applauds the Biden-Harris Administration and the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health for developing these comprehensive recommendations that will strengthen state and federal efforts to address the unmet needs of pregnant and perinatal people with mental health and substance use disorders.
As always, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with AMCHP’s Government Affairs Team: Sherie Lou Santos (ssantos@amchp.org) and Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org).
The post AMCHP Applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s Release of the Maternal Mental Health Task Force National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care appeared first on AMCHP.