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Educational Resources for Providers, Patients, and Families

An environment with ample displays of, and access to, mental health-related information can help to reduce stigma and empower women and their families to seek help, while letting women know that they are not alone. Place posters, pamphlets, and other materials throughout your offices.

All new prenatal patients and their families, or other members of the patient’s support system should be proactively provided with education so that they are aware of signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Having these conversations early in the pregnancy and again in the early postpartum period can decrease stigma, normalize screening and detection, and encourage women to discuss any mental health concerns.

Provider, Patient, and Family Resources

Provider Resources

ACOG

Women’s Preventive Services Initiative

State Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs: Clinicians can call their state perinatal psychiatry access program with questions about the diagnosis and management of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Some programs also provide mental health resources and referrals. Visit the program’s website to find out if your state has a program.

Postpartum Support International’s Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line: available to all clinicians throughout the U.S. Call (503) 218-3818  or visit the website to schedule a 1:1 consultation by phone with a perinatal psychiatry expert.

CREOGs Over Coffee Podcast episode 183: 30-minute conversation about perinatal mental health between Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, FACOG; Nancy Byatt, DO; and hosts Fei Cai, MD, FACOG, and Nicholas Burns, MD, FACOG.

American Medical Association Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Collaborative

Patient Resources

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential support, resources, and referrals from professional counselors to pregnant and postpartum individuals facing mental health challenges 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselors offer support in English and Spanish and interpreter services are available in 60 additional languages. Call (833) 852-6262.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States by calling or texting 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

ACOG

ACOG Explains: Mental Health and Pregnancy

National Institutes of Health: Moms’ Mental Health Matters

Order free copies or download the PDF of materials, including posters, tear pads, and postcards. All materials are FREE and available in English and Spanish.

Postpartum Support International

Patient Resources (discussion tool, posters, DVD, brochures)
Download and print materials for free or order copies (charges apply). All materials are available in English and Spanish.
Helpline: (800) 944-4773
Text (800) 944-4773 (English) or (971) 203-7773 (Spanish)

Contact this non-emergency helpline for support, information, or referrals to postpartum mental health providers. The helpline is open 7 days per week. Leave a confidential message at any time, and a volunteer will return your call or text as soon as possible. PSI also offers online support group meetings to connect with other pregnant and postpartum women. You also can join PSI’s weekly Chat with an Expert.

This information is designed as an educational resource to aid clinicians in providing obstetric and gynecologic care, and use of this information is voluntary. This information should not be considered as inclusive of all proper treatments or methods of care or as a statement of the standard of care. This information does not represent ACOG clinical guidance. It is not intended to substitute for the independent professional judgment of the treating clinician. Variations in practice may be warranted when, in the reasonable judgment of the treating clinician, such course of action is indicated by the condition of the patient, limitations of available resources, or advances in knowledge or technology. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reviews its publications, toolkits and other resources regularly; however, this information may not reflect the most recent evidence. View ACOG's complete disclaimer.