In a groundbreaking effort to confront one of the most overlooked contributors to maternal mortality, Brooklyn College hosted its inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Summit in April, bringing together more than 200 attendees from across disciplines to spotlight the mental health challenges that can occur during and after pregnancy. The summit, held in the Brownsville, NY, neighborhood—an area acutely affected by maternal health disparities—offered a rare blend of academic insight, community collaboration, and urgent public health messaging.
The Global Crisis of Perinatal Mental Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), perinatal mental health disorders are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
Worldwide, about 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women experience mental disorders—mostly depression. In some low- and middle-income countries, that figure rises to nearly 20%.
In the most severe cases, these untreated conditions can result in suicide or infanticide. Even when less acute, perinatal mental illness can impair a mother’s ability to care for herself and her child, hampering infant development and increasing risks of malnutrition and disease.
WHO warns that poverty, domestic violence, and lack of social support are key risk factors. Yet, the solution is both clear and achievable: integrated, low-cost mental health interventions delivered by trained providers—including non-specialists—can significantly improve outcomes for mothers and children alike.
Efforts like Brooklyn College’s summit and certificate program are aligned with global recommendations to embed maternal mental health into mainstream education systems—helping to break the silence and stigma surrounding this crisis.
Hosted in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the New York City Department of Health, and United for Brownsville, the event featured over a dozen mental and perinatal health experts. It also showcased Brooklyn College’s new academic programming aimed at training the next generation of providers.
“The inaugural summit on perinatal mental health exemplifies the strength of partnerships united by a common cause,” said Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson, JD, LLM. “Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is a leader in tackling maternal health disparities and a vital ally in our mission to serve the community and improve health outcomes.”
Though often underreported, perinatal mental health conditions—including postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis—are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. Nationally, around one in seven women experience postpartum depression, according to summit speakers. Globally, WHO estimates that 10% of pregnant women and 13% of new mothers experience mental health disorders, with rates even higher in low- and middle-income countries.
Keynote speaker Ashanda Saint-Jean, MD, an OB/GYN and maternal mortality review board member, underscored that mental health conditions now account for the largest share of maternal deaths. “There is a severe lack of support systems, particularly for women of color in Brooklyn,” she told attendees. “We must reevaluate the current models and address the gaps in both care and compassion.”
Associate professors Jacqueline Shannon, PhD, and Haroula Ntalla, who led the summit’s planning, emphasized the importance of bridging clinical expertise with community needs. The event also introduced Brooklyn College’s new Perinatal Mental Health Advanced Certificate Program, the first of its kind in New York State. The program, developed in partnership with Reynoso’s Maternal Health Task Force, launched two pilot courses this spring, with a full cohort expected in fall 2025.
A First-of-Its-Kind Certificate Program
Brooklyn College, in collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s Maternal Health Task Force, has launched the first-ever Advanced Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) in New York State. The year-long program is designed to equip healthcare providers, mental health practitioners, early intervention specialists, and early childhood educators with the skills to support pregnant and birthing individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Set to begin its full rollout in fall 2025, the certificate includes 120 in-person clinical hours and was created with an explicit focus on reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to preventative, comprehensive perinatal care. Two pilot courses are currently underway this spring.
“Mental health is the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in New York City right now,” said Reynoso. “Brooklyn College’s Perinatal Mental Health program will be a key piece of the puzzle.”
Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson emphasized the initiative’s real-world impact, calling it “a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, community-driven education.”
“Perinatal mental health isn’t just a women’s issue or a health issue—it’s a community issue,” said Shannon. “If we want better outcomes, we must meet women where they are and arm our workforce with the knowledge and training to do just that.”
The summit’s powerful mix of personal testimony, academic research, and policy discussion signals a shift toward treating maternal mental health not as a side concern, but as central to the broader goals of health equity and family well-being.
