Postpartum Depression & Maternal Mental Health

Historically, mothers and fathers have faced substantial social obstacles in accessing high-quality maternal mental health care. The DePaul Infant Equity Education Project (DIEEP) seeks to bridge this gap by offering support and resources for both maternal and paternal postpartum depression.
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Postpartum Depression (PPD), or "baby blues," is a mental health condition that many parents experience during​​​​​​​ the postpartum period after birth. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), about 15% of pregnant women experience PPD. This rate increases for minority populations and those burdened by social determinants of health (SDOH) like low socioeconomic status. Additionally, an estimated 10%—which can increase to 25% depending on the study sample size—of fathers experience paternal PPD, with a high likelihood of onset alongside maternal PPD. These statistics highlight a glaring issue: both mothers and fathers are vulnerable to postpartum mental health conditions. Furthermore, SDOH and structural barriers limit opportunities for parents to receive treatment and support during this difficult time, exacerbating health inequities and increasing disparities.

DIEEP is specifically tailored to reduce these maternal mental health disparities through its postpartum depression education and support initiatives. By educating the community on the signs and symptoms of maternal ​​​​​​​and paternal PPD, promoting local and national maternal mental health resources, hosting community outreach events, and identifying SDOH and risk factors within our patient population, DIEEP effectively targets at-risk groups and disseminates the necessary resources for families in need. 

Want to learn more about postpartum depression and maternal mental health? Click here for our postpartum depression informaitonal push cards, or read our article here for more maternal mental health information.
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Have questions or want to know more about the project’s maternal mental health initiatives? Click here for more information, or call a DIEEP Catalyst staff member at (504) 482-2080. ​​​​​​​Click here to view our postpartum depression support video.