Comprehensive Integrated Care Model to Improve Maternal Mental Health

In this article, we describe an integrated care model in a perinatal psychiatry program to improve access to care for women who experience mood changes during the perinatal period. A nurse-practitioner trained in psychiatry and obstetrics is embedded in the obstetric clinic, and perinatal nurses, often the first professionals to recognize women who are experiencing mood changes, can easily refer women for follow-up. Barriers, lessons learned, and goals for implementation are described.