Maternal Mental Health in CUNY/SUNY Public Universities as a Workforce Development Strategy

• By: Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW, PMH-C Perinatal Mental Health Consultant, Educator, Advocate, Clinician, and Public Speaker, Adjunct Professor, Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College
• January 19th, 2026
• culturally responsive care, health equity, maternal mental health, maternal mortality, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), postpartum depression, social work education, Winter 2026 Issue, workforce shortages
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Maternal mental health conditions are the most common complication associated with childbirth1 and the leading cause of maternal mortality in New York.2 Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) include depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and psychosis during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum....