Building sustainable policies to improve maternal mental health screening practices and treatment services in Los Angeles County

Depression during the perinatal period is a major public health issue affecting 10% to 25% of all women, and up to 48% of women living in poverty. The LA County Perinatal Mental Health Taskforce is a network of public and private organizations, consumers, and health care providers dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of women and their families through the effective prevention and treatment of perinatal depression. The Taskforce and the LA Best Babies Network have planned a 5-year policy initiative to address perinatal depression. Method: The first step was to develop a community outreach strategy to incorporate key stakeholders. The second phase was to publish background materials including a report on the landscape of maternal depression screening and treatment practices in LA County to aid in educating key health and policy leaders. The third phase was a policy roundtable of maternal and mental health professionals and policymakers to develop a perinatal mental health policy agenda identifying key recommendations to increase and improve screening for perinatal depression. The long term goal is legislative or regulatory language supporting universal screening and referral for depression. Results: The policy roundtable brought together health and mental health leaders and community stakeholders who successfully identified policy recommendations to improve maternal mental health in LA County. The recommendations were then formed into specific action plans currently being implemented by the taskforce. The task force has succeeded in getting a county resolution and is advocating for a state resolution aimed at increasing awareness.