In California, as in the US overall, about one in five mothers / birthing people* suffers from maternal mental health (MMH) issues (also known as “perinatal mood and anxiety disorders”), negatively impacting the mother/birthing person and the child. Despite this high prevalence of MMH issues, the overwhelming majority of mothers / birthing people experiencing MMH symptoms (75%) do not receive treatment. CHCF is working with partners to better understand this issue and to explore innovative, practical solutions for delivering MMH care to California’s mothers / birthing people in need.

MMH conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. They include prenatal and postpartum depression and/or anxiety, bipolar disorder, and in extreme cases, postpartum psychosis. According to the California Department of Public Health’s Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA), 21% of pregnant and postpartum mothers / birthing people in California are affected. The prevalence is estimated to be even higher in some populations. For example, during pregnancy, maternal depression rates rise to as high as one in two for those on Medicaid. This is significant because Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) covers 45% of the 400,000 babies born in the state annually. Additionally, in California, Black mothers / birthing people report the highest rates of anxiety and depression, compared to all other races, and anxiety has been found to be more common than depression in the perinatal population. Alarmingly, maternal suicide (PDF) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the US; it most common in the White population and occurs most often between six and 12 months postpartum.

Left undetected and untreated, MMH conditions can lead to negative health outcomes for the mother / birthing person, and can negatively affect the mother-child bond and the child’s long-term physical, emotional, and developmental health. Additionally, there can be significant financial costs of untreated MMH conditions (e.g., more use of emergency care services, higher rates of absenteeism at work) — an estimated $35,000 for each mother / birthing person–child dyad.