Policies, programs, and research shaping maternal mental health care

Public health organizations across Michigan are paying closer attention to the growing need for maternal mental health support, especially as postpartum depression (PPD) and perinatal mood disorders (PMD) continue to affect families statewide. The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) conducts research, partners with community organizations, and informs policymakers on how to improve outcomes for pregnant and parenting individuals.

“Social determinants of health have profound impacts on the health of pregnant people and are linked to the prevalence and intensity of maternal mental health diagnoses such as PPD and PMD,” says CHRT project manager Jennie Scheerer. “However, gaps in this type of care persist in obstetric settings.”

Rural Michiganders face additional obstacles, including provider shortages, long travel distances, and maternity ward closures — factors that increase stress and often lead people to delay or forgo needed mental health care.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, more than 60% of maternal deaths in the state are preventable. Mental health related causes, including substance use disorder and suicide, are among the top contributors. 

“CHRT is currently supporting community partners in two different projects focused on Southeast Michigan and Detroit: Mom Circles and Medicaid for Moms,” says CHRT’s research and evaluation director Melissa Riba. “The foundational philosophy is that mothers with unmet behavioral health needs who struggle to care for themselves will also struggle to meet the needs of their young children.”

Helping pregnant parents build mental health

Mom Circles, developed by the Children of the Rising Sun Early Childhood Institute in Detroit, offers therapeutic group sessions and peer support for mothers of young children. Early evaluations show improvements in social connection, postpartum depression symptoms, and overall well-being among participants. 

Medicaid for Moms, a collaboration between CHRT and the Southeastern Michigan Health Association, provides culturally tailored materials to help parents understand Medicaid benefits such as doula care and extended postpartum coverage. 

The initiative focuses on reducing racial disparities, particularly for Black mothers, who experience maternal mortality rates 4.5 times higher than white mothers. Riba notes the project was designed to increase health literacy, encourage benefit use, and reduce inequities.

“Women of color face many inequities in maternal health care which are reflected in higher rates of perinatal and postpartum mental health conditions,” says CHRT health policy analyst Holly Teague.

Three other highly accessible community mental health resources are MC3, Zero to Thrive, and Postpartum Support International. MC3 connects pregnant patients and those within twelve months of postpartum to mental health providers. Zero to Thrive specializes in perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health through programs like Mom Power and Fraternity of Fathers, focusing on early relational health. PSI Michigan maintains statewide directories of postpartum mental health resources, including support groups and provider lists.

Better data and policy shifts can help fill the gaps

The most significant gaps in Michigan’s current system of care for postpartum mental health is the lack of robust, nuanced statewide data that goes beyond individual health and looks at systemic barriers specific to the maternal health crisis. 

To fill gaps in this important research, CHRT is developing the Michigan Maternal Health Survey and partnering with maternal health groups across the state to ensure the findings lead to actionable recommendations for policymakers, health systems, and community organizations. Recent policy recommendations also could support statewide maternal mental health goals.

“The passage in June 2025 of a package of 10 maternal health bills includes HB5170 and 5171 which include requirements for insurers and providers to cover and conduct mental health screenings as part of routine perinatal and postpartum care,” Riba says.

Riba emphasizes that these screenings are essential for identifying mental health needs early. Evaluations from CHRT’s programs show that supporting parents’ mental health improves outcomes for both children and families.

Scheerer adds that new policies should integrate smoothly into current medical workflows to avoid adding burdens on providers. She also highlights telehealth expansion and diversifying the maternal health workforce — including doulas and midwives — as important strategies to improve culturally competent, accessible care statewide.

“Experiences of PPD and PMD can vary widely. Interventions that work to address these outcomes in Michigan should be culturally competent and prioritize the experiences of parents of color,” Sheerer says.

Postpartum depression is a common, treatable condition.

“There is no shame in seeking help. We all need to normalize care-seeking and make the pathways to access necessary care as easy and appropriate as possible,” Riba says.

CHRT’s work underscores how interconnected maternal health systems can link clinical care, behavioral health, community supports, and state policy. As Michigan continues to pursue solutions to its maternal mental health challenges, CHRT’s research and partnerships aim to ensure that every parent has access to compassionate, informed, and culturally responsive care. To learn more about CHRT’s work, visit https://chrt.org.

Photos by Michail Nilov, Newman, and Helena Lop via Pexels.com.

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan’s children, teens and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, Center for Health and Research Transformation, Genesee Health System, Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, North Country CMH, Northern Lakes CMH Authority, OnPoint, Sanilac County CMH, St. Clair County CMH, Summit Pointe, and Washtenaw County CMH.