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Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

We fund this program to expand health care providers’ capacity to screen, assess, treat, and refer pregnant and postpartum people for mental health and substance use disorders (SUD).

Access our 2024 fact sheet (PDF - 217 KB) about this program.

Are you a health care professional looking for help? Access consultation phone lines in 13 states.

Awards

We fund 13 awardees to carry out services in their state.

Read the closed notice of funding opportunity (HRSA-23-085).

Our reach

Statewide programs are available in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont. There is also a regional program in Los Angeles County, California.

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A map of the United States indicating which states and regions offer services and activities under the Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders program.

States and regions that have Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders services and activities: Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Los Angeles County, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.

States that do not have Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders services and activities: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

How this program works

Awardees provide front-line and maternal health care professionals with:

  • Psychiatric consultation (in person or virtually)
  • Trainings on mental health and SUD screening, assessment, and treatment
  • Care coordination services (for example, referrals for treatment and for other community-based resources like peer support groups, housing support, or education)

All training and services are:

  • Based on the best science
  • Respond to the impact of trauma and its effects on the patient.
  • Appropriate to patients’ cultural background and language

Why this work matters

Mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, according to data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 38 states. This includes deaths due to suicide and drug overdose.

Depression is one of the most common complications during pregnancy and after childbirth. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 8 women are affected by postpartum depression.

According to data from the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, depressive symptoms after childbirth are most commonly reported among:

  • Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native
  • Asian/Pacific Islander
  • Black women

Improving the public health system

This program:

  • Increases routine mental health and SUD screenings during and after pregnancy
  • Provides more access to these services close to where pregnant and postpartum people live
  • Considers cultural background and language needs when providing care

Measuring impact

Awardees collect and report data each year so that we know how many:

  • Maternal health care professionals get consultations or receive help with care coordination
  • Health care professionals are trained on maternal mental health and SUD screening, assessment, and treatment
  • Trainings include topics on equity and culturally responsive care
  • Community-based mental health and SUD support service professionals are included in the state’s referral database

More information

Learn about other programs we fund to address mental and behavioral health.

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Jobs

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Contact us

Need more information, or have a specific question? Contact Diane Tanman at DTanman@hrsa.gov.

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