Infant mental health integration into OB care leads to increased connection to services during the perinatal period

Abstract

We compared referrals and connection to care between perinatal patients: 90 receiving OB/GYN care in clinics with integrated behavioral health consultants with infant mental health specialization (IMH-BHC), and 68 receiving traditional care, in the United States. Participants identified as: Native American/Alaskan native, 1.90%; Asian, .63%; African American, 58.23%; Middle Eastern, 6.96%; African National/Caribbean Islander, .63%; Latin-American, 8.86%; and White, 28.48%.

Approximately 80% of families in each group were offered referrals. By design, intervention women received mental health services during pregnancy; 16% of women in either group received postpartum mental health services. Intervention group participants were over three times as likely to engage in IMH home visiting. Treatment families were less likely to follow up with infant referrals, but also had fewer infant emergency room visits.

All intervention participants met with an IMH-BHC prior to recruitment; however, only 20% self-reported encounters with a mental health professional, indicating these interactions may not be identified by the participants as mental health care; therefore, openness to treatment may be increased for women who feel stigma around mental health care.

Given the importance of perinatal mental health, OB/GYN clinics and others serving perinatal patients may consider integrating IMH providers as part of the care team.