Provider Perceptions of Perinatal Mental Healthcare Access

The consequences of untreated perinatal mental health conditions are well-established, yet fewer than one in five women experiencing perinatal mental health distress receive treatment. Although recommendations for evidence-based treatment are increasingly widespread, patients and providers still face substantial hurdles to accessing needed services. This study sought to update the literature with a report on providers' perceptions of the demand for and accessibility of mental health services for women in the perinatal period with the goal of pinpointing areas where quality improvement should be implemented.

An eight-item, mixed-methods (i.e., open choice, multiple choice, and open response) questionnaire assessing perceptions of patients' access and barriers to care was sent in a department-wide email at a large academic medical center. Forty-six providers completed the survey (n = 18 physicians, n = 14 nurse midwives, n = 13 advanced practitioner nurses, n = 2 other providers).

Providers reported pervasive barriers to perinatal mental healthcare and that only occasionally are their perinatal patients able to access appropriate mental healthcare.

The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding access to mental healthcare, ultimately aiming to improve the overall well-being of women during the perinatal period. The study emphasizes the ongoing critical need for researchers and the healthcare system to recognize and address the persistent challenges faced by obstetric providers, highlighting the pervasive nature of issues in accessing quality perinatal healthcare and underscoring the importance of acknowledging these challenges for justifying increased clinical access, rigorous intervention studies, and policy change.