Maternal and infant mental health: Developing a dyadic model of care

Approximately 8% of US women experience major depression in their lifetime with even higher rates among perinatal women. Research clearly delineates the link between maternal depression and a host of poor child health and developmental outcomes including cognitive delays, difficulties in emotional regulation and attachment, and behavioral and educational problems. Detecting and treating depression in pregnant and parenting women will have profound effects on promoting the mental wellness of all family members, including infants. The Massachusetts Maternal and Infant Mental Health (MIMH) Project has implemented an innovative community-based model of care to improve mental health services for pregnant and parenting women and their infants with a focus on the mother-infant dyad. The Project reaches a vulnerable population including families living below 100% of poverty, minorities, and those at risk for poor maternal and birth outcomes including infants at risk for social and emotional delays. The Project has implement interventions on three levels: individual, social and organizational. On the individual level, the Project developed interventions focused on identifying and providing both individual and group mother-infant dyad services for women and infants experiencing, or at risk for mental health issues. On the social level, the Project worked to increase community and social support for pregnant and parenting women and their infants; and on the organizational level, the Project worked to enhance the capacity of community and state partners to support positive mental health for care givers and their infants. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation identifies promising practices for replication in other communities.