Prioritizing Maternal Mental Health: Care and Support for Moms and Birthing Persons
By: Tonya Fulwider, Associate Director at Mental Health America of Ohio and the Co-Founder and Director of POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms)
As we come to the end of May and reflect on Maternal Mental Health Month, it’s an opportune moment to highlight the importance of supporting moms and birthing persons in their mental well-being.
Motherhood is a profound and transformative journey, that is also accompanied by unique challenges, including the potential impact on mental health. The period of pregnancy and the first year of motherhood, known as the perinatal period, is highly susceptible to mental health issues. Perinatal mental health conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth and are linked to higher rates of infant and maternal mortality, family fragmentation, lack of prenatal care, low social support, financial and housing instability, co-occurring health complications, unmanageable job strain, difficulty meeting maternal role expectations, and childhood or perinatal trauma, including domestic or sexual abuse. The physical, emotional, environmental, and hormonal changes during this time can make birthing persons vulnerable to conditions such as prenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety disorders, and postpartum psychosis. Mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period is also influenced by social determinants and structural factors, including racism, socioeconomic status, and access to quality healthcare.
Peer support is the care, assistance, and understanding provided by individuals who share similar experiences, and it has emerged as a key component in promoting maternal mental health. Connecting with others who provide empathy can offer a safe and nurturing space to share doubts, fears, and triumphs. This form of care has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in reducing feelings of isolation and enhancing coping strategies.
Mental Health America of Ohio (MHAOhio) conducts the POEM (Perinatal Outreach & Encouragement for Moms) program, which closes gaps in care for pregnant and parenting people with maternal mental health complications. Through care navigation layered with certified peer support, POEM serves as a single-entry point of care, providing mental and emotional care through the perinatal period. POEM provides peer mentoring, support groups, talk/text support line, and access to specialized maternal mental health clinicians. POEM’s Rise branch provides all program services exclusively by and for Black and African American mothers and parenting individuals.
The POEM program embraces participants through a safe, holistic, trauma-informed model grounded in connection and lived experience. The heart of the program is meeting moms and birthing persons where they are. Program staff either have the answer or know who does. There is always a clear next step in each participant’s mental health journey. Boundaries are clearly defined around peer support and care navigation, making strong relationships with other care providers a central part of the program.
While peer support has proven effective in promoting recovery and maternal mental well-being, combining the power of peers with the expertise of community health workers (CHWs) can enhance the support available to mothers and birthing persons during this transformative phase of their lives.
CHWs play a crucial role in bridging the gap between healthcare systems and communities. They provide education, resources, and assistance in navigating the complex healthcare landscape, making healthcare more accessible and culturally respectful.
When peers and CHWs collaborate, their combined strengths create a powerful support system for maternal mental health. They can address the emotional and practical aspects of maternal mental health comprehensively. Together, they create a holistic support system that addresses the multifaceted needs of pregnant and postpartum people.
Mental health is a critical aspect of the well-being of pregnant and postpartum people. By harnessing the synergy between peers and community health workers, we can create a comprehensive support system that addresses the emotional, informational, and practical needs of mothers and birthing persons during this transformative phase of their lives.
Tonya Fulwider is the Associate Director at Mental Health America of Ohio and the co-founder and director of its maternal mental health program, POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms).