The role of perinatal psychiatry access programs in advancing mental health equity

Abstract

This editorial presents: 1) a review of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs as an integrated care model with potential for promoting perinatal mental health equity; and 2) a summary of how the model has been and can be further adapted to help achieve perinatal mental health equity in geographically diverse settings. Within the editorial, we highlight Access Programs as a promising model for promoting perinatal mental health equity. This editorial is supported by original descriptive data on the Lifeline for Moms National Network of Perinatal Psychiatric Access Programs. Descriptive data is additionally provided on three statewide Access Programs. The Access Program model, and the accompanying Network of Access Programs, is a multi-level approach demonstrating promise in reducing perinatal mental health inequities. Access Programs demonstrate potential to implement interventions to address well-documented inequities in perinatal mental healthcare access at the patient-, clinician-, practice-, community-, and policy-levels. For Access Programs to leverage their potential to advance perinatal mental health equity, systematic efforts are needed that include partnership with impacted communities and implementation teams.

Keywords: Health equity; Lifeline for Moms; Mental health; Perinatal health; Psychiatric access programs; Substance use disorders.