A task force for the Department of Health and Human Services launched a national strategy to improve maternal mental health care recently.
The task force said that one in five women experience mental health and substance use problems during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
According to experts maternal mental health issues and substance use disorders are the leading causes of pregnancy related deaths in the United States. The task force also noted that the US has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries.
The George Washington University has experts available to comment on all aspects of maternal Mental Health. To arrange an interview please contact Kathy Fackelmann, [email protected] or Katelyn Deckelbaum, [email protected].
Caitlin Murphy, a research scientist at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health, is available to discuss postpartum depression, access to care and state efforts to address the maternal mental health crisis. Murphy's work helped to create report cards grading each state's performance on maternal mental health. In 2024, the US national grade for this issue improved from a D to a D+ but many states still received a failing or subpar grade, according to the report Murphy helped create along with the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
Amita N. Vyas, is a professor at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health and Director for the MPH Maternal and Child Health program and the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. She can discuss trends in maternal mental health and the
importance of early treatment and prevention.
Nancy Gaba is professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and is board certified in Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
Linda Cassar, clinical associate professor at the GW School of Nursing, has worked primarily with the maternal/child health patient population over her 30 years as a nurse, working in labor and delivery, mother/baby, high-risk antepartum, and outpatient community perinatal
education.
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