The Crisis of Perinatal Mental Health Requires Collaborative Solutions

While a great deal of focus on risks to women’s health just before and after giving birth centers on physical wellbeing, Rebecca Levine, Senior Maternal Health Advisor with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), observed that we may be missing a key part of the picture.

“Many are unaware that common perinatal mental health disorders – such as anxiety and depression – are the leading complication of pregnancy and childbirth globally,” said Levine at a recent event hosted by USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership on global resources for Perinatal Mental Health (PMH). She added that USAID recognizes that healthy women and families are the cornerstone of an enduring and prosperous society; and USAID decided to play a key role internationally by elevating perinatal mental health as a strategic priority for increased focus and investment for the coming years.

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