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Perinatal Mental Health Program

Providers at ���ϸ����� Langone Health recognize that pregnancy and the first year after childbirth—known as the postpartum period—bring profound life changes and a wide range of emotions. Although this time is often joyful, it can also be accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. The Perinatal Mental Health Program supports patients through these emotional ups and downs, ensuring holistic care that addresses both physical and mental wellbeing.

Team-Based Care

Our multidisciplinary team is made up of obstetrician–gynecologists, a licensed clinical social worker, and reproductive psychiatry fellows. Together, we identify, prevent, and treat these and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders:

• postpartum depression
• anxiety
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• postpartum psychosis

A Thorough Screening Process

We proactively screen patients at the beginning of their pregnancy for mood and anxiety conditions by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Screen (GAD7) and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Such screening helps us identify any underlying conditions that may be present and allows us to closely monitor patients throughout the duration of pregnancy and beyond. We also use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period to assess emotional wellbeing.

Treatment Options and Support

Our goal is to foster a safe, nonjudgmental space where patients are heard, understood, and empowered. Depending on your risk assessment results from the prenatal and postpartum screenings and goals for treatment, we may recommend talk therapy or medication to help manage your symptoms.

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy is conducted by our licensed clinical social worker in a private or group setting. It can help patients process feelings of anxiety, depression, grief, or trauma related to pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting. Coping strategies and emotional regulation skills to manage symptoms and promote resilience are also discussed during this time.

Medications

Our obstetricians—many of whom have specialized training and certification in managing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders—can guide initial conversations about using medications in pregnancy and in the postpartum period. This is particularly helpful for those who want to build an ongoing relationship with their obstetric care provider and recognize that mental health and pregnancy health go hand in hand.

For those with more acute needs or complex mental health challenges, our reproductive psychiatrists can work as primary providers—or in collaboration with a patient’s preexisting therapist or psychiatrist—to ensure optimal care throughout pregnancy and up to one year after birth.

Emotional Health and Better Outcomes

By integrating mental health care into prenatal and postpartum visits, we aim to reduce stigma and promote open conversations about emotional health. Our program not only improves outcomes for mothers but also positively impacts the wellbeing of newborns and families, laying a strong foundation for healthy parent–child relationships.