January 22, 2025
CDC Activities: Improving Maternal Mental Health Care | Reproductive Health

Depression among women

Depression during and after pregnancy can result in negative outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and their babies. Professional and clinical organizations recommend that all adults, including pregnant and postpartum people, be screened for depression.

However, a CDC study shows that health care providers are missing opportunities to ask pregnant and postpartum people about depression. About 1 in 5 pregnant people were not asked about symptoms of depression during a prenatal visit. About 1 in 8 people were not asked during a postpartum visit.

CDC activities

CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) works to improve the mental health of women by collaborating with professional organizations.

Collaboration to support obstetrician-gynecologists

CDC Activities: Improving Maternal Mental Health Care | Reproductive Health

CDC collaborates with organizations to improve mental health care.

DRH helped American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional organizations to develop a Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit

The toolkit summarizes common mood and anxiety disorders. It also provides guidance for women’s health care providers to discuss mental health with patients. Additionally, it includes recommendations for screening frequency and administration, and educational resources for patients, families, and providers. This collaboration also led to the development of trainings and webinars on the treatment of mental health conditions in women.

Partnership to support pediatric providers

To improve the integration of mental health care for postpartum women and parents or caregivers in pediatric care settings, DRH collaborated with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Videos, conversation starters, and job aids are available

Working together to support mental health providers

DRH also supported the American Psychiatric Association

Hear Her®

The Hear Her campaign supports CDC’s efforts to prevent pregnancy-related deaths. This campaign shares potentially life-saving messages about urgent warning signs, including ones related to mental health conditions.

Woman holding pregnant belly Know the Urgent Maternal Warning Signs text displayed

CDC’s Hear Her campaign shares messages about urgent warning signs.

Research activities

DRH funded a study to improve, evaluate, and deliver a program to address depression during and after pregnancy. This randomized control trial was conducted by the University of Massachusetts at Worcester. The control group was enhanced usual care through access to the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) for Moms

Additionally, DRH analyzes data to provide national and state-level surveillance about the prevalence of and risk factors for depression. Other topics for analysis include related health conditions, pregnancy outcomes, and diagnosis and treatment of depression. DRH also assists states and organizations to perform similar activities and to develop strategies for addressing mental health conditions among women.

Selected publications list

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