Closing Gaps in Maternal Mental Health
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health is a national think tank, nonprofit organization advancing policies that support a health care system that routinely detects and treats maternal mental health disorders for every mother, every time.
In the mid 2010s, 2020 Mom spearheaded the passage of the largest maternal mental health state policy package to date in California. Since that time, 2020 Mom has also been tracking state legislation across the U.S.
Read MoreThe 117th Congress successfully passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 on December 23, 2022 and is now headed to President Biden’s desk for signature.
Read MoreThe federal bill that 2020 Mom has championed, was passed by Congress and calls for the development of a national strategic plan to address maternal mental health.
Read MoreTake two minutes and two clicks to tell Congress to pass legislation to improve access to contraception care, particularly now, post the overturn of Roe v Wade.
Read MoreThis year we had amazing participation in our webinars. We’ve gathered our three most popular webinars. Check out the countdown, and watch any you may have missed!
Read MoreWe’ve gathered the most viewed blogs published this year and listed those covering Policy topics separately. See if you’ve read them all as you skim through the countdown.
Read MoreWe’ve gathered our most viewed web pages this year. See if there’s something you’re interested in learning more about as you skim through the countdown.
Read MoreIn early December, our policy team worked with a coalition of non-profit partners and submitted the following letter to Congressional appropriations leaders, urging them to prioritize contraception care and safe motherhood. This is a priority for 2020 Mom and our coalition partners given the state of reduced availability of abortions in the United States and the link between unintended pregnancies and higher rates of poor mental health outcomes.
Read More2020 Mom submitted the following letter on behalf of 50+ organizations, to House and Senate Majority and Minority leaders on December 5, 2022. The letter urges Congressional Leadership to include the bipartisan House-passed maternal mental health legislation in the end-of-year Omnibus.
Read MoreAccess to reproductive healthcare has been shown to impact rates of Maternal Mental Health Disorders (MMHDs). In 2020 Mom’s most recent issue brief, we present the available research on the multifaceted relationships between access to different forms of reproductive health care and maternal mental health (MMH). The brief also provides a call to action for policymakers, providers, and health insurers.
Read MoreIn September 2022, the Department of Labor hosted a roundtable discussion on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The MHPAEA “was enacted in 2008 and requires insurance coverage for mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, to be no more restrictive than insurance coverage for other medical conditions.” 2020 Mom attended this discussion and submitted the following letter outlining the barriers to care and considerations for mental health parity.
Read More2022 was an important year for both federal mental health and maternal health policy. 2020 Mom led and supported critical pieces of legislation, engaged with key federal agencies, including the White House and CDC, and continued to serve as a top subject matter expert in not only maternal mental health policy, but also mental health parity and peer support.
Read MoreNovember is Native American Heritage Month and 2020 Mom wants to address the maternal mental health disparities and honor the history and culture of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).
Though Native Americans faced historical trauma and now face extremely high rates of maternal mortality and depression little effort has been made to recognize and prioritize this first population’s maternal mental health disparities and needs.
Read MoreAt the 2023 Maternal Mental Health FORUM we will dive into the relationship of infant mental health and maternal mental health. This issue of What We Are Reading several articles and studies highlight this important relationship and address the impact of untreated maternal mental health disorders on children. It’s my hope that infant mental health specialists will soon specialize in maternal mental health. Read more about this and other important issues below.
Read MoreThe first set of U.S. maternal depression screening data is now available - through HEDIS. Not surprisingly, screening in both pregnancy and the postpartum period was reported at less than 20%.
Read MoreIn September 2022, The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) invited public comment on the draft recommendations for screening for suicide risk, and anxiety in adults. 2020 Mom submitted the following letter co-signed by 10 other organizations. It commends the USPSTF for its recommendation to screen adults, including the perinatal population, for anxiety, and suggested those who disclose suicidal ideation on a depression screener, be screened for suicide risk. Read more below.
Read MoreLeading organic baby food company partners with nonprofit organization to help provide resources and close gaps in maternal mental health care for moms.
Read MoreCMS finalizes “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designations, available in Fall 2023.
“Birthing-Friendly” Hospital Designationsare defined as “a publicly-reported, public-facing hospital designation on the quality and safety of maternity care.”
Read MoreA government report released in October confirms that during COVID, maternal health worsened, racial disparities grew, and rates of maternal mental health disorders rose.
Maternal deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic was a contributing factor in 25% of all maternal deaths in 2020-2021, as found in the recent report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO conducted this research because the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes a provision for GAO to report on its pandemic oversight efforts.
Read MoreMental health screening awareness month is ending, but awareness about screening for postpartum depression and other maternal mental health disorders should be a constant priority.
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