What You Can Do: A Qualitative Study on Black Maternal Mental Health and Equity

Background/Objectives: Maternal mental health concerns are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, disproportionately impacting Black mothers in the United States. Structural racism and social determinants of health contribute to increased risks of perinatal mental health issues, limited access to formal services, and adverse health outcomes for Black mothers. While formal mental health services are underutilized, Black mothers employ a variety of culturally relevant and context-specific strategies to support their mental health. This study seeks to understand the barriers, preferences, and experiences that guide their decision-making and inform culturally responsive care. Methods: This qualitative study employed thematic analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with 12 Black mothers aged 20-39 residing in a midwestern metropolitan area. The research explored individual experiences, preferences for support, and perspectives on healthcare to identify pathways for advancing mental health equity. Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) Expanding conceptions of mental health support beyond traditional services, emphasizing preferences for culturally congruent, convenient, and stress-decreasing interventions; (2) The salience of past experiences and identities in shaping support preferences and decisions; (3) What healthcare professionals can do, the knowledge and skills healthcare professionals can gain, and the actions that they can to become more helpful to Black mothers. The importance of healthcare professionals embodying nonjudgmental, patient, and caring attributes, as well as strengths-based, culturally responsive approaches in care. Conclusions: Advancing mental health equity for Black mothers requires increased awareness of existing disparities, barriers to care, and the strengths embedded within their communities. This research provides actionable insights for healthcare providers, policy makers, and researchers to identify, assess, and respond to the unique needs of Black mothers through culturally responsive and participatory approaches. Findings have implications for intervention design, theory development, and policy reform to improve mental health outcomes.