In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month this September, let’s talk about mental health. Mental health is part of overall health – especially for pregnant and new moms. Perinatal mental health disorders are the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality – but they are preventable.
Consider these facts:
Research shows that nearly half of perinatal women in Texas with depression do not get the treatment they need (Mathematica)
Texas has continued to have high shortage in mental health (MH) professionals. Of these available MH health professionals, few have perinatal mental illness training.
Access to mental health professionals can be tough, but a new initiative launched a few weeks ago to help. We’ve shared information about PeriPAN before, but are excited to announce it is online!
The Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network (PeriPAN) is a new state-funded pilot project available to clinicians in four regions of Texas that are treating new and expectant mothers with mental health concerns. Its goal is to increase a provider’s capacity to treat maternal mental health conditions during the patient visit through a consultation phone line. PeriPAN can help with screening, treatment plans and medication management; the regional psychiatrists serve primary care physicians, family doctors, OB/Gyns, pediatricians and midwives in non-hospital settings in four regions.
PeriPAN is here for clinicians so that maternal mental health can be the first thing that you’re assessing and screening for and not the last. Doing this can help prevent the fatal impact perinatal mental conditions have on Texas moms every year.
For more information about where PeriPAN is offered as a pilot, and how to enroll as a provider, visit https://tcmhcc.utsystem.edu/peripan/. The page includes other resources available statewide, such as.
o Women & Children | Texas Health and Human Services
o For immediate mental health resources, call 800-273-8255 or, visit MentalHealthTx.org.
o Suicide prevention hotline: Call or text: 9-8-8; Chat online: 988lifeline.org