Maternal Mental Health Initiative
In 2018, New York State launched a broad effort to combat maternal depression. Maternal depression and related mood and anxiety disorders are prevalent. If you can identify and treat these conditions early, it leads to better health outcomes for mothers and children.
Project TEACH is a part of this cross-systems effort.
Please scroll down for current COVID-19 resources
Project TEACH helps you provide the best possible care to women both during and after pregnancy
This initiative gives you direct access to mental health experts who can provide guidance on how to:
Featured Consult Calls
Consultation Services
Next Consultation
Thursday, August 13
1PM - 2PM
Advisor - Marlene Freeman
Day
Date
Time
Advisor
Thursday
August 13
1PM
Marlene Freeman
Tuesday
August 18
5PM
Ruta Nonacs
Thursday
August 20
1PM
Laura Petrillo
Tuesday
August 25
5PM
Edwin Raffi
Thursday
August 27
1PM
Allison Baker
PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR UPCOMING CONSULT CALLS
New York State maternal mental health providers can schedule a consultation with expert psychiatrists in maternal mental health through an open conference line. The open conference line is available twice weekly on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 PM and Thursdays from 1 to 2 PM. Providers can schedule in advance a ten-minute window to call in to present cases or ask questions and get responses.
Providers may also submit non-urgent questions by email. Expert psychiatrists in maternal mental health will respond to all questions within two business days.
Interactive consultations take place 2 times per week.*
RESERVE A TIME FOR YOUR QUESTION
Any provider may schedule in advance a specific ten-minute window to call in and present a brief case or question and get a response. Providers may join the open conference line at any time or call in only for their scheduled call-in time.
reserve a timeEMAIL A NON-URGENT QUESTION
Providers can also submit non-urgent questions by email. An expert physician will respond within 2 business days.
EMAIL QUESTION
Linkages & Referrals
Our Regional Providers are here to help you find linkages and referrals. Resources are available by calling Project TEACH Regional Provider in your area. Locate your county on the map. Then use the contact information for your region to request linkage and referral information.
View Regional ProvidersSupporting Maternal Mental Health Providers
COVID-19 is impacting the lives of mothers and children across New York State. Project TEACH Maternal Mental Health Initiative continues to support Primary Care Providers during this time. Take advantage of the free consultation line, non-urgent email, and referrals to community resources for advice and support from expert psychiatrists in maternal mental health. It’s easy to schedule a consultation or non-urgent email below.
Resources
Emergency Numbers
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any type of crisis.
Call 1-800-273-8255
Call 1-800-273-8255
Child Abuse Hotline, at 1-800-342-3720. Calls to the hotline are anonymous; callers' identities are protected from disclosure.
Providers
Maternal Mental Health Resources
Evidence-based resources concerning pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic assessment and treatment of maternal mental health conditions.
A toolkit that provides resources for screening and post-screening follow-up for postpartum depression.
FAQs regarding postpartum depression, and a list of resources for patients and clinicians.
The National Council’s Maternal Mental Health Safety Bundle, including a list of resources for patients and providers.
Postpartum Maternal Depression Screening: Updated Billing Guidance
A toolkit designed for community-based providers to assist mothers who are suffering from depression.
Helpful information and resources to assist primary care providers in assessing and treating postpartum depression.
An article for pediatric primary care providers on ways to implement postpartum depression screening and identify community resources for treatment and referral.
Resources for Addressing Medication Treatment
DART provides more than 400,000 journal references covering teratology and other aspects of developmental and reproductive toxicology.
July 5, 2017 - The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: July 3, 2017 Over the last 2 decades, there has been a growing interest in establishing a rich […]
The LactMed® database contains information on drugs and other chemicals to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed.
The Motherisk Program at The Hospital for Sick Children is a teratogen information service providing up-to-date information about the risk and safety of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Research and education in the program is also an important ongoing activity.
MotherToBaby is the public information service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), a professional scientific organization composed of experts engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding outcomes from medications and other exposures. This site is dedicated to providing evidence-based information to parents, health care professionals, and the general public about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Guidance for providers on patient care for pregnant mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Best practices for screening, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment for alcohol and substance use during pregnancy.
Resources for Addressing Non-Pharmacologic Treatment
Information about the biopsychosocial aspects of obstetrics and gynecological medicine.
An article regarding the importance of social support in addressing postpartum depression among racial/ethnic minority women.
An article regarding the association of race, psychiatric history, and adverse life events as they may impact postpartum depression in Black and Latina women.
Results support research showing sleep quality is a risk factor during the postpartum period.
An article showing the benefits of continuous support during labor and childbirth (e.g. doula) support.
Screening Tools
Any questions about the use or scoring of screening tools, please contact the Project TEACH expert psychiatrists in maternal mental health by submitting a non-urgent question by email here, or calling in to the consultation line that takes place twice each week.
Most Frequently Used Screening Tools
A 10-item questionnaire to screen for depression in postpartum women. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 2-item questionnaire used to inquire about the frequency of depressed mood and anhedonia over the past two weeks. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 9-item questionnaire to inquire about the frequency of depressed mood and anhedonia over the past two weeks. This can be used following a positive PHQ-2 screening. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 7-item questionnaire used to measure the severity of anxiety, and probable occurrence of generalized anxiety disorder. Questionnaire and scoring.
A questionnaire used to determine the probable onset of bipolar disorders (including Bipolar I, Bipolar II and Bipolar NOS). Questionnaire and scoring.
Other Screening Tools
A 21-question psychometric questionnaire to screen for the severity of a patient’s depression. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 7-item questionnaire to screen for the severity of a patient’s depression. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 21-question psychometric questionnaire to screen for the severity of a patient’s depression. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 3-item version of the EPDS, used to screen for depression in postpartum women.
A 20-item scale that asks caregivers to rate how often over the past week they experienced symptoms associated with depression. Scale. Click here for scoring.
A 10-item questionnaire to screen the severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. Questionnaire.
A 3-item item questionnaire to identify probable major depressive disorders. Questionnaire and scoring.
A 17-21 item questionnaire to rate the severity of depression in patients. Questionnaire and scoring.
Articles About Screening Tools
January 19, 2018 - The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: November 22, 2017 Over the last several years, there’s been increasing interest and ultimately a growing number of mandates across […]
March 23, 2017 - The following post was first published in OB/GYN News. Please see our OB/GYN News archives here. Publish date: March 3, 2017 Over the last decade, appreciation of the prevalence of perinatal depression – depression during pregnancy and/or […]
March 23, 2016 - It was almost a year ago that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists came out unequivocally in favor of universal screening for perinatal depression. In the revised policy statement from ACOG’s Committee on Obstetric […]
Women and Families
Maternal Mental Health Resources
A NYS Department of Health Fact Sheet.
Highlights special concerns regarding major depression during pregnancy.
Information for pregnant and postpartum mothers, their families, and health care providers about depression and anxiety.
A free telephone information service providing information about the possible effects of medications and other exposures that may affect pregnancy or breastfeeding.
A guide for women and families on how to recognize postpartum depression, and where to seek help.
A comprehensive statewide and international guide to identify resources for women and their families.
Treating for Two is a program launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Treating for Two aims to improve the health of women and babies by working to identify the safest treatment options for the management of common conditions before and during pregnancy.
A fact sheet about the maternal mental health disparities for Black women, who are at higher risk for postpartum depression compared to white women.
Peer Support Resources
A comprehensive statewide guide to identify peer support and other resources for perinatal and postpartum women.
A website to helping fathers and families address postpartum depression, including peer support.
A division of Postpartum Support International (PSI), supporting professionals and families of color around perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Tools to Promote Wellness
Dr. Anna Glezer: A physician’s expert guidance on your mental health & emotional well-being during pregnancy, delivery, & postpartum. Articles, guides, & advice on mood, anxiety, mental illness, hormones, treatments, resources, & many others.
Supportive services for new and expecting moms.
A guide on how to find and work with birth and postpartum doulas provided by Postpartum Support International.