Maternal Mental Health Awareness

Provide families with maternal mental health support

Maternal Mental Health Month is recognized every May. The blue dot is the symbol for perinatal mental health survivorship, support, and solidarity. Perinatal mental health disorders, like postpartum depression and anxiety, are the No. 1 complication of childbirth.
Stress, anxiety or pregnant woman talking to psychologist on mental health, support or perinatal depression healthcare clinic sofa. Pregnancy, fear or scared mother on couch in psychology counseling

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Perinatal Mental Health Resources for ALL Families

Maternal mental health (MMH) conditions impact individuals during pregnancy or the year following pregnancy; they include anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar illness, psychosis, and substance use disorder. Combined, MMH conditions impact one in five pregnant or postpartum people, or an estimated 800,000 families each year in the United States.

Several organizations are working to improve perinatal mental health outcomes for families, including the Blue Dot Project and Postpartum Support International. NICHQ joins in sharing helpful resources for health professionals, community advocates, and families to identify and support mothers and caregivers who may be struggling with their mental health.

Citations

  1. Wang, Z., et al. (2021). Mapping Global Prevalence of Depression Among Postpartum Women. Translational Psychiatry, 11, 640. LINK
  2. Fawcett, E., et al. (2019). The Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Multivariate Bayesian Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(4), 18r12527. LINK
  3. Gavin, N. I., et al. (2005). Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Incidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106(5), 1071–1083. LINK

NICHQ INitiatives

Our Maternal Mental Health Work

Several NICHQ projects include initiatives focused on improving mental health care in the United States. Learn about the work NICHQ projects are doing to support pregnant and postpartum individuals who are managing maternal mental health conditions.

Maternal Health Action & Resource Center (MHARC)

The newly established MHARC will provide capacity building assistance (CBA), training, and technical assistance (TTA) to State Maternal Health Innovation awardees and other Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – Maternal and Child Health Bureau award recipients. This center will broadly share and disseminate information about evidence-based strategies and guidance with the purpose of enhancing and strengthening recipients’ ability to improve maternal health outcomes for all populations in their communities in order to advance maternal health nationally.

Learn more about this project

National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives

NICHQ works to enhance the coordination and communication of perinatal quality collaboratives across the nation, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns.

Learn more about this project

Supporting Healthy Start Performance Project

Healthy Start is a community-based federal program seeking to eliminate disparities in infant mortality and perinatal outcomes by working to improve systems of community care in communities with infant mortality rates at least 1.5 times the U.S. national average.

Learn more about this project

Save the Date

Daily Observances

The Blue Dot Project celebrates Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week with daily observances.

May 5 – 11, 2025

Spread the Word about Maternal Mental Health Awarness Week
  • May 5th: Share Your Story
  • May 6th: Raise Your Hand
  • May 7th: March for Mother
  • May 8th: Wear Blue
  • May 9th: Celebrate You
  • May 10th: Share Your Advice
  • May 11th: Invite Friends

NICHQ Insights

Reading List for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

At NICHQ, we are committed to supporting health professionals in improving recognition and response to MMH conditions. Check out our insights to learn how you can support this initiative.

Doula Support Improves Maternal and Child Health Outcomes, Patient and Family Engagement

In honor of World Doula Week, celebrated annually March 22-28, The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) held a conversation with LaToshia Rouse, CD/PCD(DONA), owner of Birth Sisters Doula Services. Rouse currently serves as the Patient and Family Engagement Co-Chair of the National Network for Perinatal Quality Collaboratives Executive Committee and joined NICHQ’s Board…

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Eliminating the Consequences of Maternal Depression

Elaine DeaKyne was excited about her first pregnancy and, physically, she sailed through it without complications. Looking back, she recalls feeling anxiety during her third trimester, but she didn’t bring it up with her doctors because, as she says, “I didn’t know it was something I should talk about.” Her anxiety heightened after her daughter…

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Wrap-Around Mental Health Services Needed for Mothers, Pregnant Patients, and Families

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re taking some time to reflect on maternal mental health and the experiences of a parent who is also a maternal and child health researcher. Read reflections from NICHQ Associate Director of Research and Evaluation Meera Menon, PhD, and learn more about her experiences navigating these roles and thoughts about how public health practitioners can hold maternal mental health more compassionately for all new parents, but especially those negatively impacted by social determinants of health.

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