The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation recently donated $200,000 to support the maternal mental health screening and referral program of the nonprofit Public Health Solutions.
Known as Family Connect EMPATHS, the program works to identify the mental health needs of new parents and connect them to community-based providers. The screening and referral process of EMPATHS is integrated into Public Health Solutions’ WholeYouNYC Social Care Network, which helps to address the health-related social needs of New Yorkers and connect them with services in their communities.
Housing instability, food insecurity and other daily stressors can exacerbate mental health issues. EMPATHS’ integration helps to better ensure that a broad range of needs are being comprehensively addressed by Public Health Solutions. It also allows for parents to get connected with the supports available to them.
“Mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in New York City, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene—a statistic that reflects a care gap that needs to be addressed,” said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield President and CEO Dr. Mark Levy said. “Addressing perinatal mental health requires more than awareness. It demands integrated, community-based solutions that meet families where they are. By embedding mental health screenings into existing networks of trust, programs like Family Connect EMPATHS offer a practical model for reducing disparities and reaching parents before crisis points emerge.”
Thousands of pregnant and postpartum New Yorkers are being screened through the program by pregnancy and parenting navigators. These individuals are also being connected with timely support, including psychotherapy, peer support groups and crisis hotlines.
The main goals of EMPATH are increasing identification and education of mental health needs for pregnant and postpartum parents and decreasing the barriers to accessing timely mental health support.
Mental health is a cornerstone of well-being for individuals and families. There is potential for profound multigenerational impacts when new parents are not mentally well. However, New York City currently has major gaps in its approach to supporting those with diagnosed and undiagnosed Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).
Some of the many obstacles preventing families from accessing mental health support include societal and cultural stigma, institutional racism, cost, fear of child welfare involvement and long waitlists. Family Connect EMPATHS breaks down many of these barriers, allowing for more new and expecting families to get the mental health support they need.
The announcement of the program’s launch and the $200,000 grant comes less than a month after Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which ran from May 5-11. The theme for this year’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week was “Breaking the Silence: Supporting Mother’s Mental Health.”
