Tiffany Moore Simas explains need for universal postpartum depression screening

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	Tiffany Moore Simas, MD

The United States Preventive Services Task Force is calling for universal screening and treatment of pregnant and postpartum women at risk for perinatal depression, a move that underscores the need for access to mental health services, such as the MCPAP for Moms program developed at UMass Medical School.

Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, spoke with National Public Radio about the program, designed to give rapid access to psychiatric expertise and mental health resources to pregnant and postpartum women’s front line health care providers. The program has become a national model and was the precursor to the recently launched Lifeline4Moms program available to states and health care systems nationwide.

"Mental health complications of pregnancy is one of the most common complications for pregnancy," said Dr. Moore Simas, associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology and pediatrics, noting that perinatal depression affects as many as 1 in 3 pregnant and postpartum adolescents, women veterans and women of socioeconomically disadvantaged status. "Even better than treating perinatal depression is preventing [it].”

Moore Simas is director of engagement for MCPAP for Moms and cofounder of Lifeline4Moms. Both programs were developed by her and colleagues at UMass Medical School to help obstetricians overcome obstacles to getting mothers mental health care.The new recommendations from USPSTF suggest that clinicians provide or refer pregnant and postpartum women who are at increased risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions. The USPSTF found convincing evidence that counseling interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, are effective in preventing perinatal depression in women at increased risk.

“That's a program where if I, if I, as an OB, have a woman in my office who's struggling with an emotional health complication in pregnancy or frankly who comes into pregnancy already dealing with a mental health issue and I don't know how to deal with it, I'm able to pick up the phone, talk to a perinatal psychiatrist and having them help me figure out what the best way is to address her needs," said Moore Simas. "In addition to [it], we have a live active inventory of all the supports in the states around mental and behavioral health services."

Read the full report from NPR and learn more about MCPAP for Moms and Lifeline4Moms.

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