Complete Story
04/13/2026
SAMHSA resource: Improving Maternal Mental Health in Women with SMI
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Technical Assistance Coalition recently released a new resource entitled Improving Maternal Mental Health in Women with SMI. Women with serious mental illness (SMI) face significantly higher risks during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including being among those most affected by maternal mortality, yet critical gaps in care persist across state mental health system.
Highlights of the publication include:
- Why perinatal screening and integrated care are game changers for outcomes
- Workforce/training gaps states are reporting — and strategies to close them
- Proven models: peer support, home-visiting programs, and mother-baby treatment units
This paper is part of the Coalition’s Refocus and Renew: Moving Towards Health series — a 10-paper collection guiding state leaders on SMI and SED treatment, recovery, and whole-person health. More papers from this series will be released on an ongoing basis.
