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From Silence to Support: How Doula Care Can Destigmatize Maternal Mental Health
Motherhood is often framed using this narrative of a “strong mother”—of self-sacrifice, resilience, perseverance, and unwavering devotion. They are expected to give endlessly, to find joy in every sleepless night, and to cope quietly with the unexpected realities of their new identity. While...
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Voice and Identity: Daughters and Sons of Parents with Psychiatric Experiences
Parenting with a mental health condition is common, yet widely unsupported. The following statistics may surprise you: according to Joanne Nicholson of Brandeis and Kate Beibel at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, 68% of women and 57% of men with diagnosed psychiatric disorders are...
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Confronting Mental Health Stigma in Maternal Care
Mental health stigma—those persistent negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes about mental illness—remains a powerful barrier to care. When these perceptions translate into actions in our society, they become discrimination, and this limits opportunities for healing. Even though mental...
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Dismantling Structural Stigmatization Through Organizational Transparency, Accountability, and Leadership
In the Summer 2022 edition of Behavioral Health News, my colleague, Jayden Carr, BS, and I wrote an article reviewing the most common forms of stigmatization and their negative effects on people with mental illness and substance use disorders (MI/SUD). The term “stigmatization” rather than...
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Teen Mothers: When Stigma Trumps Compassion (and Research)
Key points: Many teen mothers succeed but do so despite the stresses that stigma imposes on them. Stresses on both mothers and babies are associated with severe health consequences, sometimes affecting their entire lives. Healthcare providers are often experienced as stigmatizing by teen...
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Trapped by Tradition: The Anxiety of Being a ‘Good’ South Asian Daughter-in-Law
In South Asian societies—including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal—the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is often portrayed as a cornerstone of family life. While cultural narratives admire harmony and respect within the family system, the reality is often more...
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Breaking the Silence: How Reducing Stigma Can Improve Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes
May 7th is World Maternal Mental Health Day. This annual day of recognition across the globe aims to raise awareness around maternal mental health conditions, highlighting the importance of education, advocacy, prevention, and effective treatment and support for those experiencing perinatal mood...
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Breaking the Cycle: How Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health Can Improve Early Intervention for Black and Brown Youth
Cultural competence in behavioral health refers to the ability of health care providers to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with individuals across cultures. It includes being aware of the cultural factors that influence an individual's experiences and worldview, including...
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Parenting with Mental Illness: Breaking the Silence and Navigating the Challenges
Mental illness affects millions of individuals worldwide, with an estimated 20% of adults in the United States experiencing a mental health disorder each year (NIMH, 2022). Among them, many are parents tasked with the responsibility of raising children while managing their own mental health. While...
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Addressing Mental Health Disparities Among LGBTQ+ Youth
Mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ youth have been an ongoing concern for human services organizations. This group faces higher rates of bullying, discrimination, and mistreatment than many other populations. As a result, they are more vulnerable to conditions such as anxiety and...
