Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs are Addressing the Gap in Maternal Mental Health Care
In this Article
The U.S. does not have enough mental health providers to meet the demand.
Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs are helping to close this gap in maternal mental health care.
Learn about the original seven state-based Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs and what makes each unique.
The Gap in Maternal Mental Health Care
Three in four women with a maternal mental health condition do not get the treatment they need. Why?
One reason is that there are shortages in maternal mental health care at all levels. There are fewer than 500 psychiatrists trained in reproductive mental health to care for the 800,000 women who experience maternal mental health complications each year. Furthermore, there is only ONE intensive perinatal mental health treatment program for 4 million births in the United States (in comparison, there are 22 inpatient programs for pregnant and postpartum people in the United Kingdom for 600,000 births).
Dr. Aimee Danielson, a clinical psychologist at Georgetown University and MMHLA Board Member, describes the enormity of this gap in care in a CNN article: “Imagine Capital One Arena filled to capacity with 20,000 sick mothers, all waiting for access to one treatment program, with hundreds more lined up outside.”
Beyond the numbers are the stories we hear from mothers who, in the midst of their battle with a maternal mental health condition, have had great difficulty finding the right care to help them recover. These stories reflect a nationwide lack of capacity to address maternal mental health in our healthcare system.
Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs (PPAPs) Help Address This Gap
Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs, which are population-based programs primarily at the state level, help address this gap by educating frontline providers (such as obstetricians and family physicians) to treat maternal mental health conditions.
These programs provide four key services:
EDUCATION to frontline providers to help them screen and treat women experiencing maternal mental health conditions.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE to help providers and practices implement screening and treatment protocols.
CONSULTATION with psychiatrists for more complex cases.
RESOURCES and REFERRALS for local supports such as therapists and support groups.
MMHLA Plays Critical Role in Securing Federal Funding for These Programs
Securing federal funding for these programs is one of MMHLA’s primary policy objectives. The first federal legislation addressing maternal mental health, Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act of 2015, provided $20 million in federal funding for Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs for fiscal years 2018 - 2022.
When funding was announced, 30 states and territories applied, but limited funding meant only 7 state grants were provided (FL, KS, LA, MT, NC, RI, VT).
Right from the start, the demand was clear: more federal funding was needed to establish programs in more states.
MMHLA worked to introduce follow-on legislation — Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Act of 2022 — which re-authorized and expanded federal funding for these programs. In September 2023, 12 states were selected to receive a total of $8 million a year in grants, including CA, CO, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, MT, NC, TN, TX, WV. Learn More
As of 2024, over half the states have Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs, supported either through state or federal funding.
In addition, there is a nationwide consultation line run by Postpartum Support International and a Reproductive Mental Health Consultation Program run by the Veterans Health Administration.
MMHLA Continues to Advocate for These Programs
It is a core part of our policy work to ensure Congress continues to fund Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs so that they are available nationwide.
In particular, rural areas with limited access to healthcare providers and areas with populations that primarily use Medicaid for their healthcare coverage need these programs to ensure that all mothers and childbearing individuals get the mental health support they need regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status.
On March 13, we hosted our Annual Advocacy Day with 120 advocates representing 30 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Advocates met with 118 Congressional offices and requested $24 million in funding to support these programs in fiscal year 2025.
Lifeline for Moms Provides Coordination of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs
Lifeline for Moms provides coordination and programmatic guidance among the organizations implementing Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs, including:
Program development and implementation assistance.
Training and workforce development.
Consultation, evaluation, and opportunities for collaboration.
Professional development and networking.
Lifeline for Moms also leads research into effective comparison of programs, provides toolkits and educational materials, and offers an online e-module on addressing perinatal mental health in the obstetric setting. Learn More
The Original Seven Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs
Initial federal funding for Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs was provided by Congress through the Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act of 2015, which funded the seven states that are spotlighted below.
Florida
BH IMPACT: Improving Maternal and Pediatric Access, Care, and Treatment for Behavioral Health
What makes Florida’s program unique?
BH IMPACT works with the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, a nonprofit organization providing resources and education to providers and parents; information about advocacy, policy, and research; and an annual conference.
In addition, the Florida Families First Act requires the Florida Department of Health to maintain a toll-free hotline for perinatal mental health care.
Kansas
Kansas Connecting Communities (KCC)
What makes Kansas’ program unique?
KCC offers a 15-part video series on perinatal mental health screening and intervention featuring role-playing with trained clinicians.
Louisiana
Louisiana Mental Health Perinatal Partnership (LAMHPP)
What makes Louisiana’s program unique?
LAMHPP recently launched the Provider-to-Provider Consultation Line (PPCL). Now both perinatal and pediatric providers can now contact PPCL for guidance in treating their patients with mental health concerns.
Montana
Psychiatric Referrals, Interventions, and Support in Montana (PRISM) for Moms
What makes Montana’s program unique?
Montana has focused efforts on addressing substance use disorders and has partnered with the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, which is the Montana Coalition (HMHB-MT) for supporting new moms and families.
North Carolina
NC Maternal Mental Health MATTERS (Making Access to Treatment, Evaluation, Resources, and Screening Better)
What makes North Carolina’s program unique?
NC Matters partners with Duke Integrative Medicine to build on the North Carolina Pediatric Access Line and to create the North Carolina Perinatal Psychiatric Access Line (NC-PAL).
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Maternal Psychiatry Resource Network (RI MomsPRN)
What makes Rhode Island’s program unique?
One of the key partners in RI MomsPRN is the Center for Behavioral Health at Women & Infants Hospital, which offers unique services such as the Day Hospital for women needing additional treatment and the Perinatal OCD Intensive Outpatient Program specifically for individuals experiencing OCD, anxiety, panic disorders, and phobias.
Vermont
Screening, Treatment, and Access for Mothers and Perinatal Partners (STAMPP)
What makes Vermont’s program unique?
Since Vermont had an existing perinatal psychiatry consultation service in place, funding from HRSA was used to improve and enhance the system of supports and services for perinatal people and their providers.
Learn More About Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs
Promoting the Health of Parents & Children: Addressing Perinatal Mental Health by Building Medical Provider Capacity Through Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs. Read Here
The Role of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs in Advancing Mental Health Equity. Read Here
