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| Pregnant Pause
March 14, 2016
I
ssue #57
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Because there is no health without mental health!
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THE PRICE OF STIGMA: INSURANCE PENALTIES FOR MATERNAL MENTAL ILLNESS
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In recent years, we have made great strides in the fight against stigma, particularly with increased awareness of and understanding about maternal mental illness. However, there is still work to be done.
A prominent example of continued stigma was highlighted in a recent New York Time's article "An Insurance Penalty from Postpartum Depression." In it, the author details how women could be charged higher life and disability insurance premiums, could have mental illnesses excluded from coverage, or could be denied coverage at all for disclosing a history of maternal mental illness. Expectedly, many women who have experienced maternal mental illness are unable to afford these incurred insurance costs.
Such "penalties" can be incredibly harmful in the push to advance screening of pregnant women and new mothers for conditions like postpartum depression. In some circumstances, women in need may avoid screening, diagnosis, and treatment as a way to thwart any potential financial burdens.
With this example in mind, it is necessary to critically examine the true extent of stigma and attempt to mitigate its effects as much as possible, especially in regards to maternal mental health. Though the new screening recommendations are an impressive step towards understanding the burden of mental health issues among pregnant women and new mothers, we must also address entrenched issues like stigmatization of mental illness in new parents before true change can take place.
To learn more, click
here
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WORKING TO REMOVE STIGMA FROM POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Postpartum depression, in particular, has gotten attention in the news recently as celebrities have publicly discussed their experiences. Still, many new mothers avoid revealing their symptoms to others for fear of how they may react.
In the article "Removing Stigma from Postpartum Depression," Elizabeth Bastos, a mother from Baltimore, writes about how she hid her experiences with postpartum depression from her family, friends, and even her healthcare provider while feeling deeply ashamed. Bastos felt "fragile" and "deeply flawed" for being unable to care for her child properly and for not reveling in the glow of being a new mother.
Stigma prevents many women, like the author, from disclosing their symptoms of maternal mental illness. Moreover, approximately 70% of women experiencing some form of maternal mental illness will not receive treatment, likely due to fear of being identified as "mentally ill." Bastos and others are working to share their experiences with other moms in hopes of reducing and eventually eliminating the stigma surrounding maternal mental illness. They encourage others to "reach out" and speak honestly about maternal mental health to improve health outcomes in the future.
To read the article, click here.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Strong link is found between postpartum psychiatric disorders and suicide risk: A new study has found a possible link between postpartum depression and psychosis and increased risk of attempting suicide, especially in the first twelve months after giving birth. These data discredit notions that new mothers are less likely to take their own lives and that the joy of motherhood acts as a protective factor against suicide.
To read more, click here.
Pediatricians may miss opportunities for maternal mental health screening: A recent study found that less than 50% of pediatricians screen for maternal depression during office visits. It was noted that these providers may be hesitant to screen if they do not have appropriate treatment resources available for patients. The researchers encourage better educating pediatricians on the important relationship between maternal health and overall child well-being. To learn more, follow this link.
Depression and anxiety may affect IVF success: A large study on in-vitro fertilization procedures found that women who experience symptoms of depression and anxiety were less likely to have a successful IVF. More specifically, when comparing rates of pregnancy, live births, and miscarriages, women with untreated depression and/or anxiety had worse outcomes than women with no symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and women who were undergoing treatment with medication. More follow-up work is needed to further confirm these associations.
To learn more, click here.
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Thank you to Kaiser Permanente and the Atlanta Women's Foundation for their generous support of the work of Project Healthy Moms.
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 LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET INVOLVED?
2) Check out our Facebook page 3) Sign up for our newsletters 4) Contact us to see if there are any current volunteer opportunities at: [email protected] |
SCREENING & IDENTIFICATION TRAINING FOR PERINATAL MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS  Project Healthy Moms' PMAD Screening and Identification Trainings are aimed at healthcare providers (e.g. physicians, nurses, social workers) who come in contact with childbearing women. Through this program, healthcare providers who are involved in maternal and child health are trained to recognize symptoms of the various PMADs and consequences of untreated PMADs. During the training, providers learn how to screen mothers for PMADs and are also educated about treatment options and referral methods. The goal of the training is to ensure that healthcare providers are able to correctly and routinely identify and refer women who may be suffering from PMADs in their practices. To learn more and schedule a training, please contact Sarah Yoss at [email protected] or (678) 904-1968.
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RESOURCE LIST
Did you know that Mental Health America of Georgia has a resource list for pregnant and postpartum women? It is updated regularly and provides contact information for healthcare providers and outlets for self-care for pregnant and postpartum women.
To access the list, visit www.mhageorgia.org/project-healthy-moms/resource-list/
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| WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
Project Healthy Moms is an important initiative of MHA of Georgia. Perinatal mood disorders are the most common complication of childbirth. In the United States, approximately 20% of new mothers suffer from these devastating illnesses which, if not properly treated, can have a long-term negative impact on the health of not only the mothers, but their children and families as well. Our goal is to increase awareness, identification, treatment, and support of perinatal mood disorders in Georgia, while also reducing the stigma associated with them.
To learn more about Project Healthy Moms, click here.
Project Healthy Moms is only one of many programs developed by MHA of Georgia to further our mission of enhancing the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach, and advocacy.
Click here to learn more about MHA of Georgia's other programs. Your support will help us continue our work educating Georgians about mental illness, striving to eliminate stigma, and advocating on behalf of people with mental illness in our state. Click here to support MHA of Georgia.
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