Advocating for Equity in Maternal Mental Health: Spotlight on Black Maternal Mental Health Week.
In recent years, scholarship has been published on the disparities in Maternal Mental Health around the country. Organizations like the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Postpartum Support International and the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance have enacted campaigns and produced educational content highlighting the importance of general awareness of maternal mental health, but more specifically the mental and physical health outcomes of Black and Brown folx.
Whether you are an individual, a therapist, a health provider or an organization leader or business owner:
There are very tangible things you can do in the next couple of weeks to elevate Black Maternal Mental Health in your circle.
Maternal Mortality
The maternal mortality rate (the rate at which women and birthing people die as a result of birth) is higher in the US than any other developed nation and is continuing to rise. (Source: Maternal Mortality Rate by State 2024)
In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women. (Source: CDC).
In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause than White women. CDC notes that more than 80% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable. (Source: Movement CDC )
Indiana
In the states I see clients in (Indiana, California, and Ohio), Indiana ranks the worst for maternal mortality and the highest mortality rates are among Black women. In 2021, Black women died at a 73% higher ratio than white and hispanic women. Of the deaths that occurred in 2021, in 47% a substance use disorder was a contributing factor and 22% a non substance use related mental health issue was a contributing factor. 9% of deaths discrimination was a contributing factor. So in 79% of the deaths that occurred, mental health or discrimination contributed to a mama's death.
When the Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee evaluated how many deaths in 2021 were preventable, they found 71% of pregnancy associated deaths were preventable. (Source: MMRC-Annual-Report-2023 In.gov)
Maternal Mental Health
Differences can be observed in how common depressive symptoms are right after giving birth. One study found that Black women were two times more likely to report suicidal ideation in the immediate postpartum period, in comparison to their White counterparts in the study. Identifying suicidal ideation through screening and supporting mothers and birthing people for suicidal ideation in the immediate postpartum period can potentially reduce maternal deaths. In the United States, 29–44% of Black women experience postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS), yet few are properly identified and/or connected to mental care services. (Source: NIH)
What is Black Mamas Matter Alliance?
The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a national network of organizations and leaders from the maternal health, human rights, and reproductive justice fields. They believe that every person deserves access to quality and holistic health care.
“Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.” (Black Mamas Matter Alliance)
Their Goals:
“Change Policy: Introduce and advance policy grounded in the human rights framework that addresses Black maternal health inequity and improves Black maternal health outcomes
Cultivate Research: Leverage the talent and knowledge that exists in Black communities and cultivate innovative research methods to inform the policy agenda to improve Black maternal health
Advance Care for Black Mamas: Explore, introduce, and enhance holistic and comprehensive approaches to Black mamas’ care
Shift Culture: Redirect and reframe the conversation on Black maternal health and amplify the voices of Black mamas”
Black Maternal Mental Health Week (#BMMW24) - What is it?
Founded by BMMA, Black Maternal Health Week is a week of awareness, activism, and community-building aimed at amplifying the voices of Black Mamas and centering the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements. BMHW is held annually in April during National Minority Health Month.
#BMHW24 is, above all, a week dedicated to educating and advocating for Black Mamas. Through a series of digital events and community engagement, BMHW uplifts Black women led organizations to focus on the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, while engaging Black voices to lead immediate conversations around community-driven policies and programs.
Theme for this year:
“Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!”
In response to the restrictive abortion care access laws being enacted nationwide and in areas that already have poor outcomes for both maternal mental health across the board and disparities in mental health for Black and Brown folx, BMMA has decided to use the platform this year to advocate for reproductive choice.
This theme includes advocating for:
Public and Private insurance coverage for reproductive, maternal, and sexual healthcare
Improving access to birthing care across the country
Issuing guidance to insurance providers, health care providers and other care entities around making care equitable, high quality and patient centered.
Funding and research that center Black women and utilize scholarship and research from Black women
Reproductive Rights & Social Justice
The reversal of Roe v. Wade has exacerbated disparities in abortion access for Black women and birthing people. Black non-Hispanic women accounted for the highest proportion of abortions in 2021. (Source: CDC)
Among the ten states with the largest non-Hispanic Black population in 2020, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, most have implemented severe restrictions on abortion access and happens to be states that have some of the highest rates of disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. (Source: KFF)
The impact of restrictive abortion laws and denied abortion care disproportionately affecting Black Mamas, worsened further by structural barriers, such as economic disparities and limited access to quality family planning services. (Source: NIH)
Workforce Development
BMMA is also passionate about developing a workforce that understands needs and equity around maternal mental health.
Research shows that Black perinatal providers are uniquely equipped to provide care that results in improved outcomes among Black women and birthing people. (Source: Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences )
A culturally diverse and congruent, well-trained workforce of Black perinatal health professionals is needed to improve Black maternal and child health nationwide. (Source: National Library of Medicine )
In addition to growing the numbers of Black providers, Developing a workforce that is culturally competent and sensitive to the needs and experiences of Black women and birthing people is essential. This includes understanding the historical context of systemic racism in healthcare, addressing implicit biases, and providing care that is respectful and affirming of Black culture and identity. By investing in workforce development, healthcare systems can ensure that ALL Black Mamas have access to high-quality care throughout the perinatal and reproductive health continuum. This includes preconception care, prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and family planning services.
When is Black Maternal Mental Health Week?
This year, Black Maternal Mental Health Week takes place April 11th-17th and will include local events, a national call and a walk and block party. BMMA has put together a comprehensive toolkit for anyone interested in promoting Black Maternal Mental Health Week.
How can you get involved?
Download the toolkit. 2024 Black Maternal Health Week - Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Share the social images to your platforms.
Even if you’re not an influencer or a therapist, chances are, many people around you are not educated on maternal mental health and know little about Black Maternal Mental Health Week. Sharing information from the toolkit helps to educate people, and this begins to get people talking about it, which paves the way for bigger change, like legislation and funding related to maternal mental health initiatives.
Share posts to Facebook and Twitter.
The toolkit has language for you that you can literally copy and paste if you choose.
Join the TweetChat on April 11th 2024 at 12pm EST.
Attend the walk or another event.
If you live in or want a great reason to visit Atlanta, attend the block party and walk. This year, this states are hosting a local event:
See what’s available in your area and make plans to go.
Donate.
BMMA is fundraising for their organization. You can donate towards that cause here: Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. | Mightycause
Follow their work.
You can sign up for the BMMA mailing list and follow their socials to stay updated on the work being done and how you are able to help. Connect - Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Support & promote the training of Black perinatal professionals in your area.
Ask your birthing professionals if they have a diverse team of professionals. Convey that this is important to you. Ask the organizations you work with to consider financially supporting local training programs for Black perinatal professionals.
What will you do April 11-17th to promote Black Maternal Mental Health?
Other Resources on equity in Maternal Mental Health:
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance Fact Sheet Library
Postpartum Support International
To learn more about BMMA and Black Maternal Mental Health Week, listen to the call that was held in February about these events: National Call: 2024 Black Maternal Health Week Campaign (#BMHW24) - YouTube
This article was written using the BMMA Toolkit. Attribution outside of the isolated resources below go to the BMMA and the hardwork they did to provide us with resources and educational tools to share. The majority of this article is their preferred content for promotion of #BMHW24.
