Supporting Maternal Mental Health

Supporting Maternal Mental Health: How Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Leads the Way

Maternal mental health is a critical part of family well-being, yet it is often underrecognized and undertreated. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and postpartum psychosis can have lasting impacts on both mothers and their children. Despite this, maternal mental health challenges remain some of the most underdiagnosed during pregnancy and postpartum, largely due to barriers such as low reimbursement for screenings, lack of universal screening tools, limited mental health referrals, and ongoing social stigma.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB) is working to change that. The organization is committed to promoting optimal maternal mental health starting even before conception, continuing through pregnancy, and extending well beyond the postpartum period.

Normalizing the Conversation

One of HMHB’s central goals is to normalize conversations around maternal mental health. Their team emphasizes the importance of asking mothers how they are doing emotionally at every encounter, helping reduce stigma and making it easier for families to seek support.

Resources Provided by HMHB

HMHB offers a comprehensive range of resources to ensure mothers in Hawaiʻi have access to quality mental health support:

  • Maternal Mental Health Screenings: HMHB strives for 100% of appropriate clients to be screened, ensuring that no one is overlooked.

  • Expert Clinicians: The organization currently employs three mental health clinicians dedicated to perinatal and postpartum mental health.

  • Warm Referrals: For families needing additional care, HMHB provides warm referrals to counselors who are trained and/or certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C).

  • National and Local Connections: HMHB connects families to national resources such as the Maternal Mental Health Hotline and Postpartum Support International (PSI.org), which offers free, confidential support groups. In 2023, Hawaiʻi established its own PSI state chapter, creating a local directory of providers specializing in maternal mental health.

Why This Work Matters

By expanding access to screenings and support, HMHB helps prevent the devastating consequences that can result from untreated maternal mental health conditions. Their work not only strengthens mothers, but also promotes healthier outcomes for babies, families, and communities across Hawaiʻi.

Through their commitment to education, screening, and compassionate care, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies is leading the way in supporting maternal mental health in Hawaiʻi, reminding every mother that she is not alone and that help is always within reach.

Join us at our upcoming event in partnership with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Hawai‘i, Little Babes Club, Aloha Diaper Bank and Nā Keiki Kollective on Friday September 27th from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Little Babes Club in Kukui Grove. This session provides a safe and welcoming space to learn, share, and connect. Together, we’ll explore the foundations of maternal mental health, discover resources, and strengthen the village that supports every mother’s journey.

Register today by clicking here!