Maternal Mental Health is a Priority Issue

 
Mental illness in women during pregnancy, post partum and the interpartum years threatens the well-being of mothers and their children.  Evidence indicates that maternal mental illness increases the risk of maternal morbidity during labor and delivery, and of adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Post partum depression and mood disorders also threaten the infant’s cognitive and emotional development. The negative effects on the infants have typically been assumed to derive from the early interactions with their depressed mothers.

During this conference, we will examine women’s current experiences dealing with mental health issues in pregnancy and the post partum, explore what is being done in California to integrate mental health and primary care services, and identify successful ways of addressing barriers and selecting among promising practices.