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Voices of Hope and Healing: Parental Mental Health Peer Support Program for New York Families
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression (PMADs), are the most frequent complication related to childbearing and a leading cause of maternal mortality in New York State.1 PMADs affect up to 20% of birthing persons and new mothers. Also, up to 13% of fathers may...
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Supporting Maternal Mental Health and Reducing Stigma: A Clinical Perspective
Becoming a mother is a beautiful and rewarding experience, but it comes with a set of challenges that often go unrecognized. Maternal mental health is a critical dimension of perinatal care that is often overlooked amid the focus on the physical aspect of pregnancy. During the perinatal period,...
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Confronting Racial Inequalities in Maternal Mental Health in Indigenous Women
It is well known that Indigenous populations such as Native Americans (N.A.) often have limited access to healthcare and suffer from health disparities and inequities in care. This is especially true of N.A. women suffering from maternal mental health issues such as postpartum depression (PPD)...
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Trusted, Trained, and Too Often Overlooked: The Role of Holistic Providers in Maternal Mental Health
The perinatal period is a critical window of vulnerability and opportunity. Research shows that up to 20% of women experience a mental health disorder during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (Howard et al., 2014). Without...
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Developments Towards Greater Social-Emotional Support Before and After Birth
A robust body of interdisciplinary research has converged to show that healthy social-emotional development in pregnancy and the first five years sets the foundation for children’s long-term physical and mental health. When problems emerge, it is easier and far more effective to address them when...
