Building an Integrated Perinatal Mental Health Clinic in an OB-GYN Residency Practice: Lessons From a Maternal Health Innovation Grant

Mental health conditions are among the most common complications and a leading cause of maternal mortality during the perinatal period, yet many obstetric clinics lack integrated behavioral health services to address these needs. This session describes the development and early implementation of an integrated perinatal mental health clinic, supported by a maternal health innovation grant, embedded within an academic OB-GYN residency practice in St. Louis.

The clinic is comprised of an interdisciplinary care team comprised of an OB-GYN, medical family therapist, clinical pharmacist, nurses, social workers and community health workers in order to provide patient-centered care that includes psychotherapy, psychopharmacological treatment, consultation, and care coordination for patients experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, trauma histories, and challenges with nonclinical factors that affect an individual’s health. Additionally, the clinic serves as bridge to perinatal psychiatric care, utilizing internal and community resources.

Presenters will share early clinical outcomes, discuss interdisciplinary collaboration, workflow integration and strategies for addressing barriers to care in maternal health settings. Attendees will leave with practical lessons for implementing integrated behavioral health services within obstetric practices serving diverse and underserved populations.