Actively Recruiting
Pathways to Perinatal Mental Health Equity: Comparing Healthcare System and Healthcare-Community Partnership Approaches to Mood and Anxiety Care During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Led by University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Updated on 2026-04-20
1270
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Lead Sponsor
P
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
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.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Pathways to Perinatal Mental Health Equity
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have received perinatal care at a study partnering perinatal care setting during the study period
- Provide verbal consent prior to the focus group or interview
- Be proficient in English or Spanish (perinatal individuals) or English (care team members and peer mentors)
- For care team members: be employed in a clinical role at a participating perinatal care setting
- For peer mentors: have completed PSI training to be a peer mentor
You will not qualify if you...
- Individuals who do not meet the inclusion criteria are excluded
- There are no additional exclusion criteria
AI-Screening
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Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person or virtual) to confirm eligibility and provide consent
Duration - From enrollment through up to 13 months postpartum
Participants receive mental health care through either the Healthcare system approach or the Healthcare-Community Partnership approach, which includes screening, assessment, treatment, and peer support services during pregnancy and postpartum.
Regular visits as part of perinatal care and peer support contacts as offered
Duration - Up to 13 months postpartum after treatment begins
Participants' mental health symptoms and treatment/support initiation are monitored using surveys and medical chart reviews up to 13 months postpartum to evaluate changes in depression and anxiety symptoms.
Follow-up assessments at multiple time points during postpartum period
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UMass Chan Medical School
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, United States, 01545
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
Rebekah Getman, PhD
C
Carolyn Friedhoff, M.Bioethics
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Number of Arms
2
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