New York State Releases Landmark Maternal Mental Health Policy Roadmap

In a major step forward for maternal mental health policy, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has released a comprehensive 128-page report detailing actionable recommendations, systemic challenges, and aspirational goals to improve mental health outcomes for birthing persons across the state. Developed by an interdisciplinary Maternal Mental Health Workgroup mandated by the 2023–2024 state budget, the report offers a two-year blueprint for reform grounded in equity, cultural humility, and lived experience.

Download the Report

Why Maternal Mental Health Matters

Mental health conditions and substance use are leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in New York [source]. Black birthing persons are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts [source], and Hispanic birthing persons often face unacknowledged symptoms due to provider bias [source]. Nationally, 75% of postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed and untreated [source].

The report emphasizes that maternal mental health is not just a clinical issue—it’s a public health imperative with deep social, racial, and economic dimensions.

Key Recommendations: A Blueprint for Action

The Workgroup’s recommendations span a broad range of interconnected domains, each offering concrete steps that can be implemented within two years using existing resources.

1. Project TEACH Expansion
– Promote training for OB-GYNs, pediatricians, and behavioral health providers.
– Make psychiatric consultations billable under Medicaid.
– Strengthen referral networks and CME-accredited education.

2. Collaborative Care Medicaid Program
– Expand behavioral health integration into OB-GYN practices.
– Promote co-location of services and rapid referrals.

3. Dyadic Care
– Scale up the HealthySteps program statewide.
– Support parent-child bonding through integrated care models.

4. Workforce Development
– Train 988 crisis counselors in maternal mental health.
– Incorporate lived experience into clinical education.

5. Public Awareness & Education
– Launch stigma-reduction campaigns via OMH’s COPE bureau.
– Use social media to amplify voices of lived experience.
– Publish a dedicated issue of Behavioral Health News on maternal mental health.

6. Screening & Referral
– Promote validated tools that address the full spectrum of PMADs.
– Encourage screening in non-traditional settings like daycares and home visits.
– Advocate for reimbursement parity across insurance types.

7. Peer Support & Doulas
– Scale peer support programs, especially for vulnerable populations.
– Promote Medicaid doula benefits and explore private coverage options.
– Train doulas in harm reduction and overdose education.

8. Treatment & Care Coordination
– Expand access to intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs.
– Promote culturally responsive care in community-based settings.
– Support triage pathways for high-acuity cases.

9. Data & Quality Improvement
– Leverage Medicaid and EMR data to identify high-risk birthing persons.
– Use PSYCKES to track behavioral health outcomes and referrals.

10. Coverage & Benefits
– Extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum care to one year.
– Advocate for paid leave, workplace accommodations, and mental wellness benefits.
– Promote parity in telehealth reimbursement.

Considerations and Aspirations

Beyond immediate recommendations, the report outlines longer-term goals requiring additional resources:
– Create a dedicated OMH bureau for maternal mental health.
– Pilot mother-baby inpatient psychiatric units.
– Expand peer support into prenatal care.
– Offer loan forgiveness for perinatal behavioral health professionals.
– Develop culturally humble screening tools validated for diverse populations.

Implications for Policy and Practice

The report’s findings underscore the need for:
– Culturally relevant care that addresses structural racism and stigma.
– Community-based interventions that meet birthing persons where they are.
– Integrated care models that treat mental health as inseparable from physical health.
– Policy reform that removes punitive barriers to care—especially for substance use.

The Workgroup calls for a shift from cultural competence to cultural humility, emphasizing ongoing reflection, collaboration, and respect for lived experience.

Call to Action: Join the Conversation

To advance these recommendations, TOMH and Behavioral Health News are co-hosting a two-part virtual roundtable series featuring expert panelists in treatment, research, lived experience, and policy.

Roundtable 1: Understanding Maternal Mental Health and Stigma

Thursday, November 13th | 1:00 – 3:30 PM (EST)

Overview: Hosted by the NYS Office of Mental Health and Behavioral Health News, this first roundtable will provide attendees with a focused learning experience on perinatal mental health. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including prevalence rates and real-world examples illustrating their impact. The session will also examine various forms of mental health stigma—such as public, self, and structural stigma—as they relate to maternal mental health, with concrete examples from clinical and community settings. Finally, attendees will leave equipped with practical strategies for reducing stigma in maternal mental health environments and improving access to care and support services for birthing persons.

Roundtable 2: Maternal Mental Health Support Programs and Solutions to Overcome Stigma

Thursday, November 20th | 1:00 – 3:30 PM (EST)

Overview: Hosted by the NYS Office of Mental Health and Behavioral Health News, this second roundtable will focus on evidence-based approaches to perinatal mental health care. Attendees will learn to identify at least three program models for treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and understand key features that distinguish each. The session will also examine how mental health stigma affects help-seeking behavior and clinical outcomes in maternal health. Finally, participants will explore intervention strategies proven to reduce stigma in perinatal populations and consider how these approaches can be applied in their own clinical or community settings.

Psychologists and Social Workers: Earn 2.5 FREE CEUs at each roundtable! To earn CEUs, you must attend for the full duration with the video on and your full name visible in the participant window.

Conclusion: A Turning Point for Maternal Mental Health

This report is more than a policy document—it’s a call to action. It invites providers, policymakers, advocates, and communities to reimagine maternal mental health care as inclusive, equitable, and person-centered.

As New York leads the way, let us ensure that every birthing person—regardless of race, income, or identity—has access to the care, support, and dignity they deserve.