Maternal mental health is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of family well-being and a critical area for innovation in modern healthcare. Each year, thousands of women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including postpartum depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. These conditions don’t just affect mothers- they can influence infant development, partner relationships, and long-term…
As more women navigate pregnancy and early motherhood while continuing their careers, organizations must recognize that mental health support during the perinatal period is critical to employee wellness, engagement, and retention. Untreated perinatal mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and postpartum disorders, affect at least 1 in 5 women, and these challenges are often exacerbated…
Effectively addressing maternal mental health requires a comprehensive public health solution that targets risk and protective factors. These include social determinants of health, clinical care, community support, culturally responsive interventions, and policy changes. This is why the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is leading efforts to develop and support programs to help…
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression (PMADs), are the most frequent complication related to childbearing and a leading cause of maternal mortality in New York State.1 PMADs affect up to 20% of birthing persons and new mothers. Also, up to 13% of fathers may experience paternal depression. In the United States, 50%–70% of…
Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night wondering if you’re doing enough as a mother, even after giving everything you had that day? Do you constantly second-guess your parenting decisions, compare yourself to other moms, or feel like you’re falling short, no matter how hard you try? If you’ve ever felt this way,…
Postpartum depression (PPD) is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. It is characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and difficulties in emotional bonding with the newborn. Unlike transient postpartum mood disturbances—commonly known as “baby blues”—PPD is more severe and enduring,…
Distress tolerance skills are most commonly known for their role within Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), an approach originally developed to help clients living with borderline personality disorder. Research has been exploring the benefits of focusing on developing distress tolerance skills for various mental health conditions and concerns and other forms of psychological discomfort. When we…
In a world that glorifies hustle, staying busy has become a badge of honour. But underneath the endless to-do lists, constant notifications, and multitasking, many of us are quietly craving one thing: calm. Calm isn’t just the absence of chaos—it’s an intentional state of being. It’s what allows us to think clearly, act mindfully, and…
Over the past two decades in the UK, the prevalence of mental health difficulties among school-aged children and young people (CYP) has steadily increased, with one in six aged 6–19 experiencing at least one disorder (Newlove-Delgado T, 2021; Sadler, 2018). Mental health difficulties in childhood and adolescence can cause a wide range of negative effects,…
Astrophobia is the fear of the stars, outer space, and the night sky. It may also be related to an intense fear of aliens. Astrophobia is a specific phobia, an irrational and intense fear triggered by exposure to or thoughts about a particular object or situation. This phobia has a defined object—specifically, the stars, outer…