Leveraging Technology to Bridge the Gaps in Perinatal Mental Health Care with Dr. Dhami

Women's Digital Health

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This episode contains depictions of suicide and infanticide that you may find disturbing.
Did you know that 20% of pregnant women experience emotional or mood disorders? And while we don't always want to talk about it, suicide during the perinatal period is a leading cause of death in women.
My guest today is Dr. Dhami, a specialist in perinatal mental health. She shares valuable insights and resources for women facing perinatal mental health conditions and highlights the limited availability of specialized inpatient treatment for those affected.
Topics include:

• The importance of advocating for oneself when it comes to mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum.
• The importance of specialized inpatient treatment for pregnant individuals with emotional and mood disorders, and the need for more resources and programs dedicated to perinatal mental health.
• Technology's role in improving access to mental health care for pregnant and postpartum women, particularly when combined with in-person evaluation for more severe conditions.

If you need to talk to someone:

• Reach the National Suicide Prevention Line (USA) by dialing 988 on your phone or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255).
• Contact the Trevor Project (for suicide prevention and overall mental well-being of young LGBTQ lives) at https://www.thetrevorproject.org or call 866-488-7386.
• For anyone outside the USA, see https://befrienders.org/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Suicide and Maternal Mortality | Current Psychiatry Reports
• Postpartum resources for mental health:
  • https://www.postpartum.net/
  • https://marcesociety.com/
  • https://womensmentalhealth.org/
  • The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale
• Inpatient Perinatal Hospitals
  • Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit - Center for Women's Mood Disorders (unc.edu)
  • Perinatal psychiatry services - Obstetrics and Gynecology | Northwell Health
  • Women’s Specialty Unit | El Camino Health

Disclaimer
The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

The personal views expressed by guests on Women's Digital Health are their own. Their inclusion here does not constitute an endorsement from Dr. Brandi, Women's Digital Health, or associated organizations.

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Chapitres

1. Leveraging Technology to Bridge the Gaps in Perinatal Mental Health Care with Dr. Dhami (00:00:00)

2. Pregnancy and suicide discussion. (00:01:57)

3. Pregnancy mental health resources (00:08:09)

4. Postpartum mental health awareness. (00:12:27)

5. Lack of specialized perinatal care. (00:18:03)

6. Telehealth mental health care (00:24:54)

7. Artificial intelligence in mental health (00:29:01)

8. Shame and loss of dignity (00:33:24)

9. Legal system impacts perinatal community (00:35:58)

10. Using technology in mental health (00:39:22)