Working With Policymakers
To Improve Maternal Mental Health Conditions
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
Maternal mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 women and childbearing people during the perinatal timeframe (during pregnancy and first year postpartum).
Of the 4 million people who give birth each year in the United States, 800,000 will be impacted by these illnesses.
Left untreated, these illnesses can have long-term negative impact on parents, babies, family, and society.
Fortunately, maternal mental health conditions are often temporary and treatable.
1 in 5 women and childbearing
people will experience a
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION or
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
during pregnancy or postpartum
75% of individuals
who screen at-risk
for postpartum depression
REMAIN UNTREATED
The cost of NOT TREATING
maternal mental health conditions
is $32,000 per mother-infant pair
totaling $14.2 billion nationally
SUICIDE and OVERDOSE
are the leading causes of death
for women and childbearing people
in the first year following pregnancy
MMHLA uses the terms “women and childbearing people” to describe individuals who are pregnant or who give birth.
This recognizes historical efforts to advocate for maternal mental health and current efforts to include birthing people who do not identify as women.
OUR WORK
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting
the mental health of mothers and childbearing people in the United States with a focus on national policy and health equity.
MMHLA advocates for improved maternal mental health care and serves as a clearinghouse of information related to maternal mental health.
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