Comparing Healthcare and Community Partnership Models to Improve Mental Health Care for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals

What this Trial Is About

Mental health conditions during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum affect about one in five individuals, making them a leading cause of death in this period in the United States. This research aims to compare two approaches to improving care for mood and anxiety disorders among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The study involves 32 perinatal care settings across the U.S. to determine whether healthcare systems should invest in a healthcare-only model or a combined healthcare-community partnership model for mental health care during the perinatal period. The study compares two approaches the healthcare system-focused approach, which integrates screening, assessment, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders into prenatal and postpartum care through the Program in Support of Moms PRISM, and the healthcare-community partnership approach, which adds Postpartum Support International PSI Peer Support to the PRISM model. The PSI Peer Support pairs individuals with trained volunteers who have experienced and recovered from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Both models will be implemented in perinatal care settings, with half assigned to each approach. Participants will be pregnant or postpartum individuals receiving care at the study sites, along with care providers and peer mentors. Researchers will review patient charts to assess treatment initiation and symptom changes in depression and anxiety using recognized scales such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire. The study also examines the implementation of mental health screening and support services, professional and mentor experiences, and racial bias and burnout through surveys. The study includes ongoing engagement with advisory councils to gather feedback and identify factors influencing broader adoption of these approaches. The study runs through 2030 with assessments up to 13 months postpartum.

Pathways to Perinatal Mental Health Equity