Events & Resources

• Join PSI-KS and guest speaker, Kara Shelman, LCSW, MPH, PMH-C, for this impactful discussion and final webinar in our 2022 series: Infertility, Bereavement and Maternal Mental Health. Register here and join September 23rd at noon CST.
• The KCC team thanks PSI-KS and Dr. Dan Singley for last month’s presentation on Fatherhood and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. This and other session recordings from this series will be made available this Fall. For now, visit the MMHLA fact sheet on Dads and Depression, the Perinatal Mental Health toolkit subsection on paternal postpartum depression, and consider opportunities to integrate education and peer support for fathers or partners who may be effected by or experiencing perinatal mood or anxiety disorders.
• Count the Kicks will be holding a panel discussion on July 20^th 12 PM CST to discuss The State of Black Maternal Mental Health in the U.S. in conjunction with Black Maternal Mental Health Month. The panel will also discuss real solutions and the importance of the newly created National Maternal Mental Health hotline.
• Looking for a Maternal Mental Health refresher for yourself or staff? KCC friend/partner and PSI-KS chapter president, Melissa Hoffman, will be providing a Maternal Mental Health 101 training later this Summer (previously scheduled for 6/24). Stay tuned to KCC email updates or email KCC@ku.edu for the latest info.
• Join Shades of You Shades of Me for their free monthly maternal mental health ‘lunch and learn’, “Pages and Pencils.” Occurring every 4th Tuesday of the month, with each session featuring a different guest speaker and downloadable coloring page upon registration. 

SPOTLIGHT

Your work has and continues to make a difference not only in the lives of perinatal individuals and families, but also in the systems of care that support them. This last year has brought several significant changes to the perinatal behavioral health landscape, both nationally and within our state:

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline was launched this Summer and is available to serve pregnant and postpartum people 24/7, at no-cost, access confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. This service is available by phone or text and both Spanish and English counselors are available, as well as interpreters for over 60 other languages. Please share this information widely with your patients and colleagues: Call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746). TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-943-5746. Promotional materials can be accessed here or reach out to the KCC team and we can support!

In case you missed it, KanCare adopted a Maternal Depression Screening policy effective January 2021; guidance can be found here.

The Fourth Trimester Initiative, administered and coordinated by the Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative (KPQC) and KDHE, is having a significant impact on the postpartum discharge process and the lives of peripartum families in the state. This initiative is comprised of hospitals and birthing centers representing 80% of the births in Kansas. KCC is proud to support FTI sites access and engage in training related to perinatal behavioral health policy and screening implementation. Currently, 45% of FTI sites routinely screen postpartum moms for Perinatal Mood Disorders prior to discharge from the birth setting creating a prime opportunity for connection to resources and education on the prevalence and impacts of PMADs. The KCC team was excited to join the FTI General Meeting in May and we look forward to amplifying the amazing work these providers and birthing facilities are doing! (Check out the fun we had in May below!)

KCC TA Site of the Month!

As noted in our April newsletter, we are excited to announce a new feature in the KCC newsletter which will highlight a KCC enrolled organization participating in technical assistance. This highlight will include some quick facts about the organization, their current CQI focus area, and what we most appreciate about their work. 

June’s TA clinic of the month: LMH Health (formerly, Lawrence Memorial Hospital)  

·        County: Douglas  

·        Number of births in 2021: 921 

·        Current CQI focus: Substance use screening  

LMH Health has a robust Perinatal Excellence committee and participates in the Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative as a Fourth Trimester Initiative (FTI) facility. Since they began technical assistance sessions with KCC, they’ve increased screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in the inpatient setting from their baseline of 80% to 94% in the most recent quarter by training staff to use validated tools, follow standard screening workflows, and update policies to support universal screening. They’re now moving to implement substance use screening and affect hospital-wide policy change to promote use of validated screening tools for all patients at admission. 

Thank you LMH team for this commitment and amazing work to improve maternal health and wellbeing!

If your organization is interested in accessing training, technical assistance, or has a questions regarding perinatal behavioral health best practices, you can route this request through the Provider Consultation Line online form.

Perinatal Behavioral Health Referrals & Treatment: Thanks for playing along!

The winner is… Martha Palmer!

Out of all who emailed us answers, only Martha got all three answers correct to our last newsletter quiz. Martha will receive a tote bag and some additional KCC swag – congratulations, Martha!

See the answers and best practice recommendations for each question below and stay engaged in training opportunities with KCC to hone your knowledge and skills in treating perinatal behavioral health disorders.

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1. Which of these statistics related to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders is FALSE?

a) Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) do not have long term impacts and will usually go away a couple weeks after giving birth. False! Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have long term impacts on the individual, baby, and the rest of the family and should not be confused with the 'baby blues', a common adjustment phase lasting up to 2-weeks. If symptoms don’t improve or are present after two weeks post-birth, it’s time to get additional help.

2. You are an MCH nurse supporting preconception counseling with a young woman who has a history of depression, is currently taking an SSRI, and is consuming alcohol weekly to help relieve stress. Which would be an appropriate response?

b) Discuss with the women her goals for her health and possible pregnancy, including healthy ways to address stress. A strengths-based approach is always best and by approaching the situation with empathy and care. For help optimizing medications before or during pregnancy to reduce risk to the dyad, call the Perinatal Provider Consultation Line to speak with our peripartum psychiatrist.

3. You are a nurse practitioner treating a 3-week postpartum patient who is 45 years old, has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and is currently taking Abilify. The pregnancy was a “surprise,” and the patient is now reporting symptoms of severe mania and has not slept in 4 days. What would you do?

c) Call the provider consultation line to speak with a peripartum psychiatrist about potentially better medication options. This is the best option! Bipolar or other disorders presenting with mania can be tricky to manage in the perinatal period and a consultation with a peripartum psychiatrist or other provider well-versed in PMADs is recommended. 

Watch and share this short video about the Provider Consultation Line for Perinatal Behavioral Health and how it can support your work screening, referring, and treating perinatal behavioral health concerns. To reach out for a consultation or for more information about this free service for Kansas providers, click here. .