As many as 1 in 5 women will experience perinatal depression or anxiety – that is, depression or anxiety that starts in pregnancy or up to a year after giving birth. However, less than 15% of women will receive treatment. This can affect the whole family, not just mom. With approximately 4 million live births in the United States each year, this equates to 600,000 women experiencing problems like postpartum depression or anxiety. This number does not include women who miscarry or have stillbirths. If those numbers are included, the estimate is closer to 900,000 annually. While perinatal mental health can affect people from all backgrounds, data shows that certain factors can increase a person’s risk, including low socioeconomic status, teen parents, African American race, recent immigrant status, lack of social support, prior history of depression, and a history of sexual or physical violence. Rates as high as 25% to 50% have been recorded in these instances.
Data from Marion County, IN Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) cases from 2019 through 2023 show a high number of mothers who experience a stillbirth or the loss of their infant have some kind of mental health complication involved with their case, even before experiencing the loss. This number is higher than the overall national average for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Mental health complications were the number one complication in our FIMR cases, more common than preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, short interval pregnancy, or teen pregnancy.
| Mental Health/Stress | Percentage Seen in Fetal and Infant Loss Cases |
|---|---|
| History of Mental Illness | 42% |
| Depression/mental illness during pregnancy | 30% |
| Depression/mental illness during postpartum period | 40% |
| Multiple stresses | 47% |
The FIMR community action team at the Marion County Public Health Department has formed a parent mental health work group to discuss resources, programs, and interventions available to help families struggling with perinatal depression or anxiety. Below you can find some resources available online as well as within Marion County.
Mental Health Resources For New Parents Flyer English PDF
Mental Health Resources For New Parents Flyer Spanish PDF
Mental Health Resources For New Parents Flyer Haitian Creole PDF
Mental Health Resources For New Parents Flyer Hakha Chin PDF
Mental Health Resources For New Parents Flyer Burmese PDF
Substance Use and Pregnancy Flyer PDF
Need help now?
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, available 24/7
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Call or text 1-833-852-6262, available 24/7.
Interpreters available for 60 languages.
Eskenazi Health Crisis Line
Call 317-880-8485
Ascension St. Vincent Stress Center
Call 317-338-4800
Online Resources
Postpartum Support International
Multiple online support groups for moms and dads, including grief support. Call 1-800-944-4773 or text HELP to 800-944-4773 | Para Español, text 971-203-7773
https://postpartum.net/
Maternal Mental Health NOW
A free web-based pregnancy and postpartum emotional wellness app with helpful information and resources. This website also provides an online emotional wellness self-help toolkit. —Available in English and Spanish.
https://maternalmentalhealthnow.org/
Postpartum Progress
The world’s most widely read blog dedicated to maternal mental health.
https://postpartumprogress.com/
The 4th Trimester Project
Expert written resources and information for mothers and their families related to postpartum and mental health.
English: https://newmomhealth.com/
Spanish: https://www.saludmadre.com/
CredibleMind
A confidential, web-based mental health program available any time of day that helps individuals understand their own mental health. Signing up for the program gives users access to a mental health assessment and a library of thousands of online resources including expert-reviewed videos, podcasts, apps, books and articles all in one location.
The program offers learning labs with real-life guides and tools to improve one’s mental wellbeing. It features information on more than 100 different topics including stress, grief and loss, parenting, relationships, time-management, sleep, happiness and aging.
CredibleMind is available in six languages to have a broader reach in the community: English, Spanish, Burmese, French, Haitian Creole, and Swahili
Mental health information and resources are available by calling the Marion County Public Health Department’s Social Work Department: 317-221-2364
https://marionhealth.crediblemind.com/
For Providers
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit
ACOG recognizes the importance of educational tools to help OBGYNs and other women’s health care professionals address perinatal mental health conditions. To this end, ACOG is sharing the Lifeline for Moms Perinatal Mental Health Tool Kit, developed by the UMass Chan Medical School and reviewed by members of ACOG’s Maternal Mental Health Expert Work Group, to provide actionable information, algorithms, and clinical pearls to support detection, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health?emci=efb4f095-f305-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&emdi=0d9e793e-ea06-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&ceid=10046519
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Guide for Integrating Mental Health Care into Obstetric Practice
The Lifeline for Moms Guide for Integrating Mental Health Care into Obstetric Practice, developed by members of the Lifeline for Moms Program at UMass Chan Medical School, provides strategies for operationalizing mental health screening, assessment, treatment, referral, monitoring, and follow-up in obstetric practices. It provides a step-by-step process for implementing a three-phase approach: plan, implement, and sustain. Communication isn’t listed as a specific step throughout this process, but it remains, as in all quality improvement (QI) initiatives, critical, and must happen during every stage of the process.
https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health/integrating-mentalhealth-care-into-ob-practice-guide?emci=efb4f095-f305-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&emdi=0d9e793e-ea06-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&ceid=10046519
Alliance for Innovation on Mental Health Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Safety Bundles
https://saferbirth.org/psbs/perinatal-mental-health-conditions/?emci=efb4f095-f305-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&emdi=0d9e793e-ea06-ee11-907c-00224832eb73&ceid=10046519
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
PSI brings together families, communities, and professionals working to support families during pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and the postpartum period.
For a list of provider resources, trainings, and support, visit https://www.postpartum.net/professionals/.
This includes their certification programs and a psychiatric consult line for provider:
https://www.postpartum.net/professionals/perinatal-psychiatric-consult-line/
Seleni Institute
Trainings for certification and ongoing education on perinatal mental health.
Discounts and scholarships are available at different times throughout the year.
https://www.seleni.org/
The Postpartum Stress Center
Offers a training center and information to providers and families on perinatal mental health. “Our objective is to provide support and treatment for the pregnant or postpartum woman and her family as well as guidance for her treating physician or therapist. We are committed to providing excellent clinical care and education to both our clients and professionals who seek our expertise.”
https://www.postpartumstress.com/
Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health (Formerly 2020 Mom)
Policy and think tank leader on maternal mental health. Has multiple resources, educational, and advocacy materials for providers.
https://policycentermmh.org/
CHAMP
Indiana Consultation for Healthcare Providers in Addiction, Mental Health, and Perinatal Psychiatry
CHAMP is a free adult and perinatal psychiatry access program through IU School of Medicine designed to support frontline providers in treating mental health in their patients.
https://medicine.iu.edu/psychiatry/clinical-care/integrated/champ