The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recently awarded $10 million to the Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program, a new grant program to support behavioral health. was awarded. of pregnant and postpartum women. Behavioral health conditions such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders affect approximately 1 in 5 pregnant and postpartum women in the United States, negatively impacting not only the mother but the entire family. .
“The mental health and well-being of new and expectant mothers must be protected,” said Department of Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Supporting maternal behavioral health is an important part of supporting women’s overall health and wellness. This $10 million investment in women’s behavioral health will help improve the This is just one example of the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to improving women’s health.”
“These grant recipients are the first recipients of this new funding that will invest in women’s health and have the potential to have an immeasurably valuable impact on the health of children and families across the country,” HHS said. said Dr. Miriam E. Delphine Ritmon, Under Secretary for Mental Health and Substances. SAMHSA Youth and Leader. “We are excited about the positive outcomes from this funding, including expanding access to services and increasing the ability of health care providers to identify and address behavioral health conditions in pregnant and postpartum women. I’m looking forward to it.”
These investments are White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis (PDF | 913 KB)National Maternal Mental Health Task Force Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care (PDF | 3.5 MB); HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy,and White House Initiatives on Women’s Health Research. They also support the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to address mental health and the opioid crisis as part of the president’s national unity agenda.
Community-based maternal behavioral health services programs improve access to timely, culturally relevant, and evidence-based treatment for maternal mental health and substance use disorders. Specifically, the program will strengthen referral pathways into the community to support individuals in the perinatal and postnatal period who are at risk for or currently have behavioral health conditions, including mental health and substance use disorders. Provide a seamless transition of care for pregnant and postpartum women.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential support to women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA. Counselors speak English and Spanish, and interpreters support over 60 languages.
If you or someone you know is in trouble or in crisis, help is available. Call 988, text or chat with us at: 988lifeline.org. For information on how to get help with mental health, drug, or alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to find a treatment facility or health care provider, you can go directly to: FindTreatment.gov Or call 800-662-HELP (4357).
