Biden administration tackles maternal mental health crisis

In response to the urgent public health crisis surrounding maternal mental health and substance use issues in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a comprehensive national strategy.

Developed by the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women’s Services, this initiative aims to address critical gaps in maternal mental health care across the nation.

The announcement comes amidst alarming statistics revealing that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries.

Deaths resulting from suicide, drug overdoses, and other mental health and substance use-related causes account for more than 22% of

Moreover, an estimated one in five individuals experience mental health conditions and substance use disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals and those in under-resourced communities disproportionately affected.

New Jersey Medicare for All champion Lisa McCormick commended the Biden administration for its approach to addressing maternal mental health.

"The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries," said McCormick. "Deaths from suicide, drug overdoses, and other causes related to mental health and substance use issues are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., accounting for more than 22% of those deaths."

"An estimated one in five people suffer with mental health conditions – including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and postpartum psychosis – and substance use disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period," said McCormick.

McCormick praised the national strategy for its commitment to reducing disparities but reaffirmed her comprehensive vision for increasing access to care that would ensure that all Americans receive the help and support they need during pregnancy and beyond.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized that addressing the maternal mental health crisis is a top priority for the Biden administration. He highlighted the need to eliminate health disparities and enhance understanding of the impact of mental health during pregnancy and early parenthood.

“Addressing the maternal mental health crisis is a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration,” said Becerra. “Many of these tragic deaths can be prevented by eliminating health disparities and understanding the impact of mental health during pregnancy and in the first months as a parent.”

Becerra also stressed the importance of reducing stigma associated with maternal mental health challenges and improving access to equitable treatment.

Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm underscored the ongoing efforts of HHS to transform behavioral health, emphasizing the significance of providing support for maternal mental health. She highlighted that the national strategy and accompanying report would further enhance efforts to improve access to care, including the integration of perinatal behavioral health care across health and social systems.

The Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, co-chaired by Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D., and Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., has played a pivotal role in developing comprehensive recommendations to address the maternal mental health crisis. Admiral Levine highlighted the importance of the task force's efforts in informing HHS' strategy moving forward, while Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon underscored the critical need to prevent needless deaths resulting from untreated maternal mental health and substance use conditions.

The task force is a subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Women's Services which is a federal advisory committee made up of more than 100 federal and nonfederal members, including experts in obstetrics and gynecology, maternal and child health, clinical and research, psychiatry, psychology, counseling, gender-based violence, strategic policy, community behavioral health, federal-community partnerships and those with lived experience.

The national strategy outlines a vision for seamless integration of perinatal mental health and substance use care across medical, community, and social systems, with a focus on reducing disparities and increasing equity and access.

The strategy is structured around five core pillars, including building a national infrastructure, making care and services accessible and equitable, using data and research to improve outcomes, promoting prevention, and amplifying the voices of individuals with lived experience.

Importantly, the national strategy is a living document that will be regularly updated by the task force, with the federal government considering it as it continues to address the maternal mental health crisis. Resources such as the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline and SAMHSA's National Helpline are available to provide free, confidential support for individuals and families in need.

As the Biden administration takes proactive steps to address the maternal mental health crisis, stakeholders across sectors are encouraged to collaborate and prioritize maternal mental health and well-being to ensure that all individuals have access to the care and support they need during pregnancy and beyond.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. Counselors are available in English and Spanish, and interpreters are available to support callers in 60 other languages. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

To learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. Anyone seeking treatment for mental health or substance use issues should call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov.