HHS announces national strategy to improve maternal mental health care

The Department of Health and Human Services May 14 announced a national strategy to address maternal mental health and substance use issues. The strategy was created by the Task Force on Maternal Health, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Advisory Committee for Women’s Services. Alpa C. Shah, M.D., a psychiatrist with the Marshfield Clinic Health System, served as the AHA’s representative on the task force. The strategy calls for an integration of perinatal mental health and substance use care across medical, community and social systems that increases equity and access, improves federal coordination and elevates culturally relevant support and trauma-informed approaches.  
  
It also includes a framework of five core pillars: building a national infrastructure that prioritizes perinatal mental health and well-being, with a focus on reducing disparities; making care and services accessible, affordable and equitable; using data and research to improve outcomes and accountability; promoting prevention and engaging, educating and partnering with communities; and lifting up the voices of people with lived experience. Each pillar has supporting priorities and recommendations. The strategy will be updated regularly by the task force. To view AHA’s maternal mental health resources, visit www.aha.org/maternal-mental-health.