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Supporting Every Parent: Raising Awareness for Parental Mental Health in May 

Published May 8, 2025

By Kim Hawley, LMSW 

May marks Parental Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to supporting the emotional well-being of parents and caregivers of all kinds. As a licensed social worker in Kansas and Missouri, I work every day to ensure that those navigating the joys and challenges of parenting don’t have to do it alone. Through individual therapy, nonprofit leadership and advocacy at the state level, I strive to build systems that care for the mental health of every parent — regardless of their path to parenthood. 

I’m honored to serve in multiple roles, including: 

  • Founder and president of Whole Parent Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the mental health of all parents in Kansas and Missouri 
  • Member of the Missouri Hospital Association/Missouri PQC Optimizing Postpartum Care Task Force, developing statewide postpartum care guidelines 
  • Core team member of the Maternal-Child Learning and Action Network 
  • State Lead Coordinator for Missouri with Postpartum Support International (PSI) 
  • Nonprofit State Policy Fellow with the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health 

These collaborations are all focused on one mission: making mental health care more accessible, inclusive and responsive for families across our region. 

What Is Parental Mental Health Awareness Month?

Parental Mental Health Awareness Month is Missouri’s opportunity to uplift the mental health needs of parents, caregivers and their support systems. Throughout May, we aim to: 

  • raise awareness about perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety 
  • encourage training for health care and community providers to better support parents (PSI offers a variety of provider trainings) 
  • reduce stigma around seeking mental health support 
  • celebrate the essential role caregivers play in raising Missouri’s children 

This is the first year Missouri is formally recognizing this month, and we are so excited to build momentum for years to come! 

Mental Health Affects All Parents — Not Just Moms

While many conversations around postpartum mental health focus on mothers — and rightly so — it’s essential to remember that all caregivers can experience mental health challenges in the perinatal period. 

  • 1 in 10 fathers experiences postpartum depression 
  • up to 18% of dads develop a clinically significant anxiety disorder during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum 
  • adoptive parents can experience parental postadoption depression, which impacts both parent and child 
  • LGBTQIA+ parents are at higher risk for mood disorders due to stigma, isolation and exclusion from traditional perinatal care 
  • Black, Latinx and Asian parents face increased rates of discrimination and maternal mortality, raising their risk for mental health conditions 

In Missouri, mental health conditions are a leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum patients. This crisis requires a broad, inclusive approach to mental health care that sees and supports every kind of parent. 

Navigating Barriers to Mental Health Support

Getting help for perinatal mental health can be difficult — but it shouldn’t be. Fortunately, there are growing resources for parents who face obstacles to care: 

  • Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers free peer support and referrals to trained perinatal mental health professionals 
  • PSI’s HelpLine is available at 1-800-944-4773 (text available too) 
  • screening for mood disorders during pregnancy and postpartum should be standard practice — keep an eye out for Missouri’s upcoming postpartum care guidelines 

There are resources that accept your insurance or offer sliding scale and/or free services: 

  • Medicaid has been expanded to one year postpartum, which means you can access your benefits until your baby is 1 year old.  
  • As of October 2024, doula services are now a covered service by MO HealthNet.  
  • Medicaid and insurance carriers often cover mental health support, as well as additional supportive resources, such as lactation consultation and physical therapy. There are virtual options for those in rural areas or who have transportation barriers.  
  • Free and low-cost peer support groups are often available through community mental health centers and nonprofits, such as PSI and Whole Parent Foundation, and have been proven to be a helpful mental health support in the perinatal period. 

We encourage all providers to offer universal resources — not just to those who appear to be struggling. This normalizes support-seeking and ensures parents who experience symptoms later in the postpartum period don’t fall through the cracks. 

A Message to Parents Who Are Struggling

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or like you’re not yourself — you are not alone. Mental health struggles around the time of becoming a parent can feel isolating and even scary. You might feel like you’re failing or like no one understands. But please hear this: 

You are exactly who your baby needs. Your well-being matters. 

If you reach out for help and the first person doesn’t listen or respond well, keep trying. There are people who care and want to support you. Like any new job, parenting doesn’t come with a manual. It takes time to feel confident. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re a human learning something incredibly complex and deeply meaningful. 

You Deserve Care — No Matter What

Mental health support isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for thriving families and communities. During this Parental Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s commit to seeing and supporting the full spectrum of parenthood. Whether you’re a mom or birthing parent, a dad or a partner, an adoptive parent, or a caregiver in another form — you matter, and your mental health matters. 

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