Integrated Care for Women, Mothers, Children and Newborns: Approaches and Models for Mental Health, Pediatric and Prenatal Care Settings

Abstract

“Integrated” behavioral health care most often refers to coordinated primary care and mental health care delivery at a co-located clinical site or psychiatric consultation service to a primary care clinical site. Women’s perinatal medical and mental health is an ideal target for integrated, patient-centered, and family-centered care. A three pronged approach is proposed to: 1) identify solutions for current barriers to mental health care delivery for pre- and postpartum women, 2) understand the relevance, steps toward and other thematic “how to” aspects of improving access to perinatal mental health services for the ongoing health of both mother and child, and 3) learn specifics of addressing maternal mental health, infant dyadic therapy, and enhanced parenting support. It borrows from the areas of stepped care, interdisciplinary teamwork, specific matching of treatments to disorders and stages of illness, and a range of individual, dyad, family and group treatments. These treatments are accessible, reduce stigmatization, and appropriate for dissemination using technology.