The rising hormones, the vulnerability of motherhood, and the massive flux of emotions that surround childbirth are overwhelming. Layer on a mental health disorder — and the stigma that accompanies it — plus the endless demands of parenthood? No wonder postpartum care is a global health challenge.

The truth is that postpartum mental health remains largely unaddressed. And with mental health issues posing one of the greatest threats to positive postpartum outcomes, it’s clear healthcare organizations need more advanced technologies for monitoring, prioritizing, and helping patients facing these challenges.

Making a true impact on maternity patients and realistically serving their broader needs (mental health, not just physical health) is a necessity every mother deserves. The time is now to address gaps in mental health care — to truly break the silence and start bridging them proactively. 

Fast facts about postpartum mental health

Before diving into the role digital health can play to improve postpartum mental health, it’s important to contextualize some difficult truths surrounding the emotional well-being of maternity patients after giving birth.

Mental health issues are the most common postpartum complications

Classically, healthcare has viewed perinatal care through the lens of three trimesters. But modern medicine now widely considers the time after giving birth as an extension of the pregnancy experience.

Why? For one, it’s become increasingly evident how much successful postpartum care has to do with positive health outcomes for mothers, babies, and families at large. From a physical standpoint, this phase ushers in a whole host of potential complications — from incontinence to preeclampsia — that can significantly affect maternity patients’ health and quality of life. 

But challenges also extend to the emotional realm — and mental health issues most commonly challenge wellness after giving birth. By the numbers:

• One in eight moms in the U.S. experience postpartum depression. 
• In some cases, conditions can be more acute, such as with psychosis — which affects anywhere from 1-3 moms out of 1,000. 
• Sadly, if left untreated, the turmoil resulting from mental health issues can lead postpartum patients to suicide — the rates of which climbed from 0.2% in 2007 to 0.6% in 2017, according to one study. In 2023, suicide remained a leading cause of death among postpartum mothers between six weeks and one year after giving birth.

Most maternity patients never receive mental health screenings

Last year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced more robust standards for perinatal mental health screening. 

Among these updates, the ACOG perinatal mental health screening specifically recommended testing for depression and anxiety in the prenatal period, during delivery, and after giving birth. Additionally, these guidelines suggest at least one bipolar screening before starting pharmacotherapy for anxiety or depression.

But, realistically, how prepared are healthcare providers to meet the higher bar? The statistics around the current state of detecting and addressing postpartum mental health issues broadly leave room for improvement. Here’s some insight:

• Recent evidence suggests only 20% of moms are ever screened for mental health issues — like postpartum depression and anxiety — to begin with. 
• One research review found almost 50% of maternity patients with postpartum depression go undiagnosed.
• When we look at follow-up rates, the numbers are just as troubling. One analysis found only 22% of postpartum patients diagnosed with depression ever receive subsequent treatment.

Postpartum mental health challenges affect patient populations disproportionately 

Postpartum mental health issues can emerge no matter what the patient’s background. However, when it comes to frequency and severity, there are clear disparities between populations.

These inequalities are evident across segments such as race/ethnicity, income, location, and immigration status. Notably, they’re exacerbated by SDOH, including barriers to reliable transportation, health literacy gaps, and financial hurdles. 

For instance, only half of states’ Medicaid postpartum extension programs cover even lawfully present immigrants’ care needs after childbirth — possibly placing more distance between migrant mothers and adequate emotional support. Some other data showcasing inequities in postpartum mental health include:

• A report finding 29%-44% of Black mothers experience postpartum depressive symptoms — higher than the national average range of 6%-20%.
• A recent study revealing higher rates of postpartum depression among low-income groups in both urban and rural areas in Illinois.
• An analysis by Kaiser Permanente showing Black individuals living in economically disadvantaged areas have a 60% increased risk of postpartum depression compared to those residing in less disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Ready to take a deeper look at the state of maternity care and digital health? Read our recent report.

How digital health can play a more pivotal role in postpartum care

Over the last decade, healthcare has seen a plethora of point solutions aimed at reminding patients to attend appointments or schedule their next visits. But when it comes to more complex care needs — like getting in touch with a provider at the onset of postpartum depression or, on the care team side, effectively monitoring maternity patients’ well-being after childbirth — most of these technologies have fallen short. 

To truly make progress, forward-thinking providers should choose innovations that:

1. Meet patients where they are to engage and assist them

The two key parts to supporting postpartum patients facing mental health issues are consistent screening and urgent action. However, when moms leave the hospital setting, how do care teams follow through on either of these steps? And, with psychological challenges still surrounded by stigma at large, how do clinicians ensure they foster honest, accurate dialog? Memora Health’s intelligent care enablement technology solves for this by proactively interacting with maternity patients by using conversational AI that draws on clinically relevant content to answer their inquiries. Ultimately, mothers recovering from childbirth can text our platform as though they’re messaging a friend or family member — cultivating more honest, accurate answers to important screening questions.

2. Intelligently automate triaging to ensure at-risk patients receive timely care

As providers use digital health platforms to improve their mental health screenings, they’ll ultimately need to take action to help support those they treat. They might even discover more maternity patients who need assistance. How can innovative platforms help clinicians segment who to prioritize — especially with inbox rates seeing a dramatic increase in recent years? One way is with intelligent workflow management. With the power of AI, healthtech advancements can now reduce administrative burden by organizing and visualizing patient-reported data — and even intelligently categorizing tasks and patient data in an accessible queue for clinician decision-making and outreach.

3. Put the patient at the center of care with accessible channels

As mentioned before, engaging patients in a human way is essential for gleaning accurate insights into postpartum mental health. This concept also extends to the communication channels themselves. However, past digital health innovations have proven it’s easier said than done. Look no further than the rise of portals. After years of supplying patients with these hubs since the 1990s, one analysis found most patients still don’t use them. That’s why Memora uses SMS as its backbone communication mode. Not only does anyone who has a basic cell phone plan have access to texting, but 95% of texts are opened and replied to within three minutes of receiving them — far exceeding other communication channels.

Postpartum mental health issues still remain some of the biggest challenges to maternal well-being. And the road ahead to meeting the more robust ACOG perinatal mental health screening standards won’t be easy. But choosing the right digital health platform that engages patients in a human way, intelligently triages your postpartum patients’ concerns, and interacts with individuals through accessible channels can put your organization on the right footing to move the needle in the right direction. 

Curious about how Memora Health’s platform supports postpartum mothers in action? Speak with one of our experts.