Tel: 833-852-6262Perinatal mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality or pregnancy-related death in the United States. The following resources, spearheaded by Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd, and Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), are designed to help obstetricians and other providers identify and care for patients with perinatal mental health conditions, including substance use disorders.

MCPAP for Moms (Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms): Promotes maternal health by building the capacity of providers serving pregnant, postpartum (up to one year following childbirth) and lactating individuals, and those planning pregnancy, to effectively prevent, identify, and manage mental health and substance use concerns.

  • MCPAP for Moms, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, is the model upon which all other U.S. Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs are based, and continues its work to connect these programs across the country.
  • Offers providers perinatal psychiatrist consultation to talk about treatment choices, list of mental health resources, help with finding appointments for therapy, medication treatment and support groups
  • Contact for providers: 855-Mom-MCPAP (855-666-6272)

Lifeline for Moms: Works with health systems, medical practices, state and federal agencies and other organizations, and perinatal care professionals to build capacity to provide perinatal mental health support, services and interventions.

  • Products and resources are free to help clinicians prevent, identify and treat perinatal mental health conditions.
  • Mobile app includes guidelines for depression screening and treatment options, and how to discuss them with patients. It helps assess patients for bipolar disorder, which, if present, would change treatment options.

Lifeline for Moms National Network of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs and Consultative Services:Provides expert program development and implementation assistance, training and workforce development, consultation and evaluation, and collaborations with other health care organizations and states working to integrate mental health care into perinatal care.

Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Perinatal Mental Health Patient Safety Bundle: Best practices for making birth safer, improve maternal health outcomes and save lives with focused bundle, implementation guide, and change package for addressing perinatal mental health.

Guide for Integrating Mental Health Care into Obstetric Practice: Developed by Lifeline for Moms and reviewed by ACOG’s Maternal Mental Health Expert Workgroup, the online training provides obstetric care clinicians with strategies for operationalizing mental health screening, assessment, diagnosis, referral, treatment, monitoring and follow-up in obstetric practices.

ACOG Clinical Practice Guidelines for Perinatal Mental Health (May 2023): Perinatal mental health within ob-gyn standards of care. Disseminated through ACOG and its partners to 70,000 to 80,000 obstetricians across the U.S.

Additional Resources for Providers and Patients

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Free, 24/7, confidential hotline for pregnant and new mothers

  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Call or text 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262)

Postpartum Support International Helpline: A toll-free number anyone can call to gain information, support and resources.

  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Call 800-944-4773
  • Text English: 800-944-4773; text Spanish: 971-203-7773