March of Dimes is addressing systemic gaps in maternal mental health care with The Collective, its second annual solutions-focused conference expanding to simultaneous events in New York City and Los Angeles.
A new survey commissioned by the organization reveals that many Americans don't know whether mothers feel supported, and critically, many mothers themselves don't know where to turn for help when facing perinatal depression, anxiety or trauma.
"We're at an inflection point," March of Dimes stated. "These aren't problems without solutions. We know what works. The question is how we scale and institutionalize it."
The conference will bring together advocates, researchers, healthcare providers and mothers to address three focus areas: maternal mental health, stronger community and clinical support systems, and empowering women to make informed decisions about their health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Maternal mental health has emerged as a critical public health issue. Research shows that postpartum depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder affect roughly one in five new mothers. Yet screening remains inconsistent, treatment access is fragmented, and stigma persists.
The postpartum period in the United States remains notably under-resourced compared to prenatal care despite being a time of significant physical and psychological vulnerability. Many mothers lack access to evidence-based postpartum services including lactation consulting, mental health counseling, peer support groups and practical assistance.
Several proven interventions already exist and deserve scaling. Universal screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during prenatal and postpartum visits significantly improves identification rates. Training primary care providers to deliver brief interventions or connect mothers to specialists reduces the pathway to care.
Peer support models have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing isolation and improving treatment engagement, particularly for mothers facing barriers like transportation or childcare. Community health worker programs have shown promise in reaching underserved populations, though funding remains inconsistent and often dependent on grant cycles.
Policy interventions could expand access. Extended postpartum Medicaid coverage, which several states have piloted, improves access to mental health services, contraception and chronic disease management. Paid family leave directly correlates with better postpartum outcomes and mental health, yet remains unavailable to millions of American workers.
Experts note that maternal mental health challenges are not evenly distributed. Black mothers face higher rates of postpartum depression and maternal mortality while navigating systemic racism within healthcare. Low-income mothers may lack transportation and childcare to access support services. Immigrant mothers may fear seeking care due to immigration status concerns. Rural mothers face acute provider shortages.
The bicoastal approach recognizes that maternal health solutions must be tailored to regional contexts, which face different healthcare infrastructure, demographics, insurance landscapes and community resources.
