By Joy Burkhard, MBA
Founder and Executive Director, 2020 Mom

Tonight, we are sharing a gift with all of you; a new report titled Maternal Mental Health The State of the State in California and Beyond, made possible through a grant from the California Health Care who is helping to pave the way for change in maternal mental health.

A Summary of State and National Maternal Mental Health Efforts

The report looks at all of the work implemented in both California and nationally to address maternal mental health since April 2017, when California’s state strategic plan was issued by the state’s Task Force on the Status of Maternal Mental Health.

The report details many noteworthy efforts including, the USPSTF recommendation to screen for maternal mental health disorders, the American College of Obstetric and Gynecology’s Maternal Mental Health expert workgroup and effort to define the 4th Trimester, PSI’s new Perinatal Mental Health “board test” and clinical designation (PMH-C) for therapists and mid-level providers, federal legislative action including grants being distributed to seven states to address maternal mental health, and more.

Remaining Gaps and Needs

Section 4 of the report, starting on page 26, also details the Task Force recommendations that remain unmet, including the development of a state facilitated telepsychiatry consultation program for obstetricians, development of case management/care coordination programs by insurers, continued roll-out of county and community-based coalitions and efforts.

Finally, in the same section the report calls out the remaining critical national opportunities:

Professional Associations and Government Agencies should Focus on the Range of Disorders not just Depression
Professional Associations and/or Government Agencies should Develop Clinical Practice & Level of Care Guidelines
Accessible Treatment should be Built Up Aggressively, Including addressing Mental Health Provider and Obstetrician Shortages, Peer Support and more

In summary, California and the Nation has made significant strides, yet significant work is still warranted and stakeholders seem as willing as ever to keep up the momentum.

Mothers, Babies and Families Deserve it.

And the Future of California Depends on it.

If you take the time to skim the full report, we would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave us a comment below or email Info@2020Mom.org

Here is to the year 2020 and beyond.