PEACE for Moms

For a majority of women giving birth, motherhood is a joyous occasion.  Sadly, this is not the case for all.  Psychiatric issues are the most common adverse event that women experience during the postpartum period.

Georgia has 3.2% of the nation's population, but only 2.3% of the nation's psychiatrists.  Other mental health providers, such as psychologists, counselors and therapists, are also in short supply.  Of the state's 159 counties, only eight are believed to possess an adequate number of mental health practitioners. Those eight counties are all within or surrounding Georgia's cities, highlighting the needs of rural communities. 

Not only is there a shortage of practitioners, there is a lack of coverage for mental health services.  Medicaid services cover nearly 50% of women during pregnancy and postpartum care, yet provide minimal coverage for mental health. As a result of this, it is difficult for women to obtain or afford mental health evaluation and care during this uniquely vulnerable time.

To combat this issue, the Georgia state legislature through the Department of Public Health approved funding for a psychiatric program which will provide consultation to physicians, physician assistants, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. This program aims to:

• Support clinicians caring for mothers, mothers-to-be and their families
• Educate caregivers about the resources available to patients in their communities
• Provide health professionals with information so they can best treat their particular patients.
• Train medical professionals to recognize and treat psychiatric illness in their perinatal patients
• Educate physicians in training how to best address the needs of this vulnerable population

The program will be staffed five days per week with physicians specifically trained in women’s mental healthcare who are current faculty members at the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. The psychiatrists will provide consultation, as well as educational material and didactics to practitioners and trainees in order to improve the knowledge of those caring for this population. In addition, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia will be available to assist moms in need in finding appropriate social services and supports that will further alleviate mothers’ symptoms. 

• Perinatal Psychiatry - Caring for the mental health needs of women before, during and after pregnancy, helping them be healthy mothers
• Education - Sharing knowledge about women’s mental health to those caring for them.
• Assessment - Evaluating women to personalize the care she receives
• Community - Bringing together governmental, academic and civic organizations
• Engagement - Committing to improve the future for Georgia’s mothers and children

Using a team approach, PEACE for Moms will collaborate with obstetric providers to:

• Help a provider determine if a woman needs medication or if other treatments are appropriate
• Adjust treatment to minimize risks to the developing fetus
• Optimize psychiatric medication to improve the pregnant mother's functioning during pregnancy and after delivery
• Weigh the risks and benefits of a woman becoming pregnant in the presence of serious psychiatric illness
• Support a mother who has experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth with her grief and plan for future pregnancies