Improving Maternal Mental Health in the U.S.: MMHLA’s 2026 Policy Advocacy Agenda
In the United States, maternal mental health (MMH) conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, impacting as many as 1 in 5 mothers — or 800,000 families — every year in the United States (source 1, source 2). These prevalence rates can be as high as 1 in 3 for several populations, including but not limited to: women of color, women living in poverty, women with disabilities, and women in the military.
To make this issue even more severe, mental health conditions leading to suicide and overdose are a leading cause of maternal mortality, accounting for 23% of pregnancy-related deaths — 80% of which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deems preventable.
Why are so many pregnant and postpartum women dying of a preventable cause? The Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology concludes that roughly 75% of women experiencing maternal mental health conditions do not get the care needed for recovery. The reasons behind this are many: stigma, lack of mental health providers, low screening and detection rates, insurance coverage barriers, lack of awareness of these conditions, logistical barriers such as childcare and transportation, among others.
The impact of not treating these conditions extends beyond the mother with studies showing that untreated maternal mental health conditions can have a long-term negative impact on babies, parents, families, and society at large.
There is also a significant economic cost to the U.S. for ignoring this crisis. A report from The American Journal of Public Health calculated an annual loss of $14.2 billion annually (or $32,000 per mother-infant pair) due to lost productivity and healthcare costs.
These statistics are sobering, but the good news is this issue is finally out of the shadows and on the main stage—with public, private, and non-profit sectors working to address this multi-layered issue through a variety of strategies.
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) was founded in 2019 to help address this crisis through evidence-based policy solutions. Since our founding, we have helped secure $125.5 million in federal funding that directly supports maternal mental health research and programs that serve thousands of mothers every year.
Our 2026 Policy Advocacy Agenda below outlines the top three goals we are working towards this year to continue pushing for federal investment in comprehensive research, resources, and healthcare that support the mental health and well-being of our nation’s mothers.
Policy Advocacy Goal #1: Increase Funding for The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
One of the major obstacles to mothers getting the help they need is they do not know where to go. To address this, MMHLA helped establish The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline in 2022. This is a federally funded program that provides 24/7, free, confidential, voice, text, and chat support provided by trained professionals. Since launching on Mother’s Day 2022, the Hotline has fielded almost 100,000 contacts with response times under 30 seconds.
Our goal this year is to secure $10 million in federal funding ($2 million more than previous funding levels). This budget will enable the Hotline to expand operational capacity; raise public awareness through print and digital campaigns; and provide outreach to at-risk mothers, including military mothers, Native Americans, and mothers living in rural areas.
Continued funding will ensure transparency in the allocation of resources and efficiency in Hotline operations, while leveraging technology to enhance telehealth capabilities for those in need.
Policy Advocacy Goal #2: Increase Funding for The Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Program
The United States has a shortage of maternal mental health providers. To help fill this gap, we secured federal funding to establish The Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Program. This program provides grants to states to create psychiatry access programs that provide real-time mental health education, consultation, and resources to healthcare providers who support mothers in 12 states and Los Angeles County.
This year, we are advocating for $14.5 million in federal funding ($2.5 million more than previous funding levels) to support the existing programs, launch three additional programs, provide coordination and technical assistance, and increase access to care, particularly in rural areas and among Tribal entities.
Continued funding will promote cost efficiencies, improve telehealth services, and integrate maternal and child mental health access programs, thereby streamlining support systems and reducing administrative burdens.
In our ongoing meetings with federal elected officials, we emphasize that this program represents a commonsense cost-saving measure for the federal government. Each state program receives approximately $750,000 annually, which amounts to less than $2.50 per birth. In contrast, untreated maternal mental health conditions can cost $32,000 per birth. By combining data with personal stories in our advocacy efforts, we demonstrate that these programs not only address a critical need but are also fiscally responsible.
Policy Advocacy Goal #3: Supporting the Mental Health of Military Mothers
Military mothers suffer from maternal mental health conditions at 2-3 times the rate of their civilian counterparts, and they require specialized support due to the unique culture and lifestyle of the military.
To address this, we led advocacy efforts in 2024 for new legislation titled The Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act of 2024 (also called The MOMS Act), which became law in December of that year. The MOMS Act was a landmark piece of legislation as it was the first federal law addressing the mental health of military mothers. Specifically, The MOMS Act requires that the Department of Defense implement evidence-based maternal mental health programs into the military health care system.
Our goal for this year is to continue advocating for the implementation of The MOMS Act through regular outreach to the Department of Defense and to the Members of Congress who supported The MOMS Act. In 2025, we sent a letter to the Department of Defense outlining our recommendations to improve mental health among military mothers, both active duty and spouses. At this moment, we are awaiting a formal report on the progress of the implementation requirements to-date.
In addition to The MOMS Act, we advocated for maternal mental health to be designated as a priority research area within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), securing corresponding federal funding to back this work.
MMHLA is Committed to Developing the National Maternal Mental Health Infrastructure
MMHLA exists because we believe that all mothers deserve access to universal, comprehensive, and compassionate mental health care during pregnancy and the year following pregnancy. Our nation’s mothers deserve the best possible support during such a vulnerable and often challenging time of their lives, and we are committed to developing the national maternal mental health infrastructure so that all mothers and families have what they need to thrive.
To learn more and download our policy advocacy agenda, click here.
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