Maternal Suicide Brief Released

October 24, 2022 by Cindy Herrick, MA, CPSS, MHFA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Since 2018, 2020 Mom has been working to highlight the issue of maternal suicide and drive action to improve maternal suicide rates in the US. As maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the US and is intricately connected with maternal mental health disorders, 2020 Mom has been a strong proponent and a catalyst for the implementation and integration of suicide prevention programs into maternal healthcare.

This week, 2020 Mom released his week, 2020 Mom released an issue brief on maternal suicide, which presents the latest facts and issues on maternal suicide, including:

Perinatal Health Risks and Outcomes Among U.S. Women With Self-Reported Disability, 2011–19

October 04, 2022 by Sarah Johanek, MPH in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Research shows that women with disabilities, including mental illness, have an increased risk for pregnancy complications. While most studies in the past examined the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and inferred disabilities from diagnosis codes, a recent study included self-reported disability status data. This study found that 19.5% of participants who had given birth self-reported a disability, which is significantly higher than the U.S. prevalence estimated from diagnosis codes.

An Update on U.S. Screening Measurement: HEDIS Perinatal Depression Screening Measures & Medicaid Adoption

August 10, 2022 by Joy Burkhard, MBA; Rebecca Britt, MA and Sarah Johanek, MPH in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

At the urging of health care leaders, like 2020 Mom, and with funding from the California Health Care Foundation and the ZOMA Foundation, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) developed two measures for health insurance plans to monitor how often screening and follow up for maternal depression is occurring in the U.S.

It’s Time to Talk About Maternal Substance Use

April 26, 2022 by Joy Burkhard, MBA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Substance use disorders affect millions of people every year and substance use among women is increasing. Like many other diseases, substance use disorders are both preventable and treatable. However, people who suffer from these disorders are forced to navigate an often unwelcoming and fragmented health care system and a profound degree of stigma when seeking support, education, and treatment.

World Health Organization Releases New Recommendations on Maternal Postnatal Experience

April 14, 2022 by Rebecca Levine, MPH in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

The postnatal phase, defined here as the first six weeks after delivery, is a critical time for mothers, newborns, partners, parents, caregivers, and families; however this period of significant transition remains the most neglected phase in quality maternal and newborn health care.

On March 30th, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched global guidance for a positive postnatal experience. A total of 63 recommendations are made.

Universal Screening Issue Brief Released

March 21, 2022 by Joy Burkhard, MBA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Universal Screening or assessment for maternal mental health (MMH) disorders, like postpartum depression, is recommended by all leading medical and provider associations. The need for improved screening rates has recently gained more traction with providers and the media given the pandemic’s impact on mothers and mental health and with the heightened interest in maternal mortality, including suicide.

February is Black History Month: Meet Our Partners

February 14, 2022 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

In honor of Black History Month, we recognize and appreciate the imperative work of our Black-led non-profit partner organizations. Not just this month, but throughout the year – we encourage you to support them through learning more about their work and to consider giving resources if you can.

Our Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts in 2021

December 21, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

We’ve gathered the most viewed blogs published this year. See if you’ve read them all as you skim through the countdown of our top 5.

#5. Alliance for Health Policy’s Congressional Briefing: Policy Options to Advance Mental Health Care During Pregnancy

Our Top 5 Most Popular Web Pages in 2021

December 21, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

We’ve gathered our most viewed web pages this year. See if there’s something you’re interested in learning more about as you skim through the countdown of our top 5.

PAGE #5: Awareness Materials

Preventing Maternal Suicide Through Screening: A Sister’s Story

October 04, 2021 by Heather Martin in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Suicide prevention is always important, but maternal suicide prevention is especially important to me. Twelve years ago, my sister died by suicide just three weeks after the birth of her first and only child. Like many new mothers, my sister was so excited for her first child.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month

July 13, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Formally recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2008 (and currently designated as), Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face regarding mental illness in the US. As an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate, Bebe Moore Campbell worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities.

Black Mothers Get Less Treatment For Postpartum Depression Than Other Moms

May 19, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Portia Smith’s most vivid memories of her daughter Nelly’s first year are of tears. Not the baby’s. Her own.

“I would just hold her and cry all day,” Smith recalled.

At 18, Smith was caring for two children, 4-year-old Kelaiah and newborn Nelly, with little help from her abusive partner. The circumstances were difficult, but she knew the tears were more than that.

Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs): 10 New Categories of Adversity Before a Child's 3rd Birthday

May 18, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Introduction

Adverse babyhood experiences (ABEs) are a new construct derived from large bodies of research that identify a different group of risk factors from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ABEs influence infant and maternal morbidity and mortality as well as risk for chronic illnesses and other chronic conditions in the child as well as symptoms in fathers and other partners.

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.

May 10, 2021 by Joy Burkhard, MBA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Here are 9 ideas for how YOU can build momentum to improve #MaternalMentalHealth:

Join us May 20 for a Maternal Mental Health Day of Action to call/email your members of Congress to support the #MomsMatterAct
Are you a mom or family member with lived experience with maternal mental health (MMH) disorders? If so, share your story in TheBlueDotProject story bank.

February is Black History Month: Meet Our Partners

February 03, 2021 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

This February, Black History Month, we want to acknowledge the leadership and critically important work of our Black-led non-profit partner organizations. We encourage you to learn more about their work and give your time or treasure, if you can:

Suicidal, Twice – Without Warning (Psychosis – an Afterthought)

September 10, 2020 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

We are grateful to be sharing Kristina Dulaney’s story during this year’s suicide awareness week. Kristina was one of the reasons 2020 Mom and our partners knew we had to launch an annual national maternal suicide awareness week campaign.

Why “BIPOC” Replaced “Minority” this July

July 30, 2020 by Joy Burkhard, MBA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

July was first declared as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008, but this year the mental health advocacy community began adopting a new empowering term “Black, Indigenous and People of Color.”

Mental Health America explains the change as follows:

“The continued use of “minority or marginalized” sets up BIPOC communities in terms of their quantity instead of their quality and removes their personhood…The word “minority” also emphasizes the power differential between “majority” and “minority” groups and can make BIPOC feel as though “minority” is synonymous with inferiority.

New 2019 Report Released on Maternal Mental Health

December 24, 2019 by Joy Burkhard, MBA in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Tonight, we are sharing a gift with all of you; a new report titled Maternal Mental Health The State of the State in California and Beyond, made possible through a grant from the California Health Care who is helping to pave the way for change in maternal mental health.

A Summary of State and National Maternal Mental Health Efforts

The report looks at all of the work implemented in both California and nationally to address maternal mental health since April 2017, when California’s state strategic plan was issued by the state’s Task Force on the Status of Maternal Mental Health.

Study Uncovers the Heavy Financial Toll of Untreated Maternal Mental Health Conditions

August 11, 2019 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

Common and Costly Expenditures Associated with the Birth of Children in 2017 Amount to More than $14 Billion

If you ask people what they think the most common medical complication is during and after childbirth, you probably won’t hear mental health issues. Yet maternal mental health (MMH) disorders — including prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety — top the list, affecting at least one in seven women. In addition to the substantial human toll of these conditions, they come with a hefty price tag, especially because women who have them often go untreated.

The Latest Data on Maternal Mortality (Including Suicide) in the US & CA

July 10, 2019 by 2020 Mom in EMERGING CONSIDERATIONS

CDC’s Maternal Mortality Review Data Brief

The Federal agency, The Center for Disease Control (CDC) shared a new brief on Maternal Mortality Review (MMR) with updated 2008-2017 data on pregnancy-related deaths from 14 Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah voluntarily shared their data through the Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA). MMRIA supports and standardizes record abstraction, documentation of committee decisions, and routine analyses.