373: Breaking Barriers: Transforming Maternal Mental Health Care with Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW

You are in for a treat as we hear from someone who is fully committed to the advocacy and activism it takes to make a difference in the lives of new moms. She is relentless in her fight and the scope of her work is far-reaching. I’m excited to be joined by Paige Bellenbaum for today’s show. 

Paige Bellenbaum is a social worker, founding director, and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. This place is doing phenomenal work in the field of perinatal mental health, helping push the dial forward on the kind of care that new moms who are suffering should be receiving. She’s been able to put forth legislation in NY to help mothers by mandating hospitals to provide education and encourage screening for all new and expectant mothers. Paige has worked in public policy, advocacy, community organizing, and in direct practice with disadvantaged communities. Paige shares her experience as a mom and how it brought her into this work. After Paige’s first child was born, the postpartum depression and anxiety she experienced nearly ended her life. When she began to heal, her relentless fight began for education, screening, and treatment so that no one has to suffer. She continues to work closely with multiple NYC agencies on maternal mental health best practices and policies, and she was a member of the NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee as well as currently sitting on the NYS Maternal Mental Health Working Group. Paige has appeared on numerous TV news shows and major media platforms in an ongoing effort to get the word out about maternal mental health. She helps us understand the importance of education, treatment, and screening, and why higher levels of care are essential for those experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. 

Show Highlights:

• Paige’s journey into the work she does today, beginning 18 years ago with the birth of her son
• Paige’s anger that led to a new law in New York to require screening and education for new moms
• An overview of Paige’s bill and what it took to get it into law
• The changes in maternal mental health awareness over the past few years
• The suffering is REAL for many mothers.
• Validating women’s experiences and building a sense of community
• Education and screening are vital to help people recognize the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
• Details about The Motherhood Center in NYC and the scope of their work 
• “This is just the beginning.”
• Paige’s message: “Lift your voice and tell your story. Your story is power–and it can move mountains.”

Resources:

Connect with Paige Bellenbaum and The Motherhood Center: Website and Instagram

Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov

Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. 

You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.  

Vi