What we get wrong about maternal behavioral health

The health of a child is completely dependent on the health of their parent or caregiver. That is why quality, affordable behavioral health services play a critical role in creating strong families, especially during the perinatal period. However, lack of support, inaccessible services, and systemic racism have all contributed to the rising rate of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. As out state moves toward recovery from the pandemic, creating programs that address the many disparities in our maternal health system is more important than ever for ensuring families can thrive.  

Episode 15 of The West Steps welcomes a number of guests to the podcast. Erin Miller, VP of Health   Initiatives at the Colorado Children’s Campaign; Karla Gonzales Garcia, Policy Director at COLOR; Kelly Steinback-Tracy, Perinatal/Infant Mental Health Specialist at Denver Public Health; and Dr. Stephen Scott, OB/GYN at University of Colorado Hospital, all bring a vast array of experiences and knowledge to our discussion of maternal behavior health. Our guests provide an overview of what exactly maternal behavioral health services look like in Colorado, as well as the numerous structural barriers that make it difficult to access. Although the pandemic created additional obstacles to accessing these services, the 2021 legislative session proves to be an exciting time for maternal behavioral health. Senate Bills 27 and 137 are just two policies among many that could have an enormous impact on maternal behavioral health in our state. For more information on ways to stay engaged in moving this work forward, visit Colorado Maternal Mental Health Framework and Collaborative.