Xavier Becerra United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a national strategy, developed by the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, to address the urgent public health crisis of maternal mental health and substance use issues. The strategy includes recommendations that are part of broader federal efforts to improve women's overall health, particularly maternal health, across the nation.
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. Over 22% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are due to suicide, drug overdoses, and other causes related to mental health and substance use issues. Approximately one in five individuals experience mental health conditions and substance use disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These issues disproportionately affect Black and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals as well as those in under-resourced communities.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated that addressing the maternal mental health crisis is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. He emphasized that many tragic deaths could be prevented by eliminating health disparities and understanding the impact of mental health during pregnancy and in the first months as a parent.
The Task Force on Maternal Mental Health is co-chaired by Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, which oversees the Office on Women’s Health, and Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
Admiral Rachel Levine said that this announcement is an important step towards addressing the nation's maternal mental health crisis. She praised the task force's comprehensive recommendations on ways to improve maternal mental health outcomes.
Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon highlighted that untreated maternal mental health and substance use conditions can have negative long-lasting effects on individuals and families; in worst cases resulting in needless deaths.
The national strategy calls for seamless integration of perinatal mental health and substance use care across medical, community, social systems. It aims to increase equity and access, improve federal coordination, and promote culturally relevant supports and trauma-informed approaches.
The strategy outlines a path to achieve its vision within a framework of five core pillars: building a national infrastructure that prioritizes perinatal mental health and well-being; making care and services accessible, affordable, and equitable; using data and research to improve outcomes and accountability; promoting prevention; engaging, educating, partnering with communities; and uplifting the voices of people with lived experience.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential mental health support for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. For immediate help or crisis intervention, individuals can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
