BUFFALO, N.Y. — Black Maternal Awareness Week runs from April 11-18. This year, Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network is focusing on black maternal mental health.
Experts said this week is to make sure moms of color thrive after giving birth.
Dr. Pamela Reed of the Jacobs School of Medicine is involved in a study on the issue.
"Why do I, as a woman of color, feel that this is so important to get other women of color or birthing persons of color to participate is because we don't get a chance to do things like this. Research usually excludes us as target populations for study," Dr. Reed said.
Luanne Brown, president of BPPN, SAID "40% of black women experience mental health issues, which is twice the rate of all women, which aligns with our maternal mortality numbers as. 14% of women have new episodes during pregnancy and 14% of women developed three months after birth."
Brown highlighted things that must be addressed.
"We have to have support in the community," Brown said. "Once they leave the hospital, they have to do that. We have to have affordable childcare and paid leave and child tax breaks. We have to have more research on how to improve the diagnosis of mental health. We have to address the social determinants of health, especially transportation and housing for our moms, screening obviously has to be increased for our for our moms, both by OB's and pediatricians.
"We have to just decrease the non-punitive environment that these moms face because of the stigma, because they're afraid that someone's going to take their baby away, and we have to increase caregivers of color, that's key. I know my clients really feel that way."
Contact BPPN for more information at 716-884-6711.
Mate Masie Holistic Counseling provides services for women.
Melinated Moms provides support for women allowing them to engage and empower each other with the right support.