A Louisiana hospital is opening the state’s first mental health unit for pregnant and postpartum women. The new Perinatal Mental Health Unit (PMHU) is based at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge and will begin accepting patients from across Louisiana this first week of September.
Cheri Johnson, the chief nursing officer says, “We will take care of expecting moms and postpartum moms up to one year postpartum who have mental health needs that require inpatient care. Johnson says 20% of women experience maternal mental health conditions and 75% of those cases go untreated. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States.
“Last year, we saw a concerning number of women being admitted to our hospital who were suffering from mental health challenges, and we realized there was an unmet need for inpatient care particularly for this group of women in our community,” said Woman’s President/CEO Rene Ragas in a press release. “Woman’s is the largest single-hospital delivery service in the state, and we understand the unique needs of caring for perinatal patients. This is an $8 million investment that has created nearly 40 new jobs and at its core is dedicated to producing better health outcomes for women in Louisiana. This unit will serve as a beacon of hope for healing, support, and empowerment.”
According to Kimberly Gibson, of Kimberly Gibson Counseling services, “One way to find a therapist is to ask your general doctor, your OB or close friends for recommendations. Another way is to look at the provider directory on Postpartum Support International's website. Their website is full of helpful info. They also have a:
PSI HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773(4PPD).
*Calling this helpline can put you in touch with basic information, support & resources.”
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/providerdirectory/
