Maternal Mental Health: Effective Intervention for Perinatal and Postpartum Depression
Behavioral Health Insights
By Micah Hoffman, MD, DABPN, FAPA, QME, CIME, CHCQM
AllMed Behavioral Health Medical Director
Pregnancy and childbirth can trigger powerful emotions. Of these, joy gets the most attention, but fear and anxiety often also apply. Feeling worried or doubtful is normal, especially for first-time parents dealing with hormonal, physical, emotional, financial, and social changes. But too often what’s dismissed as “normal” worry or fatigue is, in fact, a more serious form of depression. Sometimes overlooked due to stigma or lack of awareness, perinatal and postpartum depression can have negative consequences that extend beyond the woman and infant to the entire family and community. For providers and health plans, understanding the nuances of these conditions and knowing how and when to intervene appropriately are essential to providing optimal care for new-parent members..…
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