Preventing pregnancy-related mental health deaths: insights from 14 US maternal mortality review committees, 2008-17.
Trost SL, Beauregard JL, Smoots AN, et al. Preventing pregnancy-related mental health deaths: insights from 14 US maternal mortality review committees, 2008-17. Health Aff (Millwood). 2021;40(10):1551-1559. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00615.
Missed diagnosis of mental health conditions can lead to serious adverse outcomes. Researchers evaluated data from 2008 to 2017 from 14 state Maternal Mortality Review Committees and found that 11% of pregnancy-related deaths were due to mental health conditions. A substantial proportion of people with a pregnancy-related mental health cause of death had a history of depression or past/current substance use. Researchers conclude that addressing gaps maternal mental health care is essential to improving maternal safety.