Mothers and Babies: Scaling an Evidence-Based Intervention Nationally to Improve Perinatal Mental Health

Shiv Darius Tandon, PhD
Institute for Public Health and Medicine
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

ABSTRACT:
An estimated 1 in 7 women are affected by postpartum depression. Experiencing postpartum depression makes it more likely that someone will have recurring depression in the future, poor attachment with her baby, relationship problems with her partner, and diminished economic stability. Mothers and Babies (MB) is a manualized intervention that has demonstrated efficacy via multiple RCTs in preventing onset of postpartum depression and reducing depressive symptoms. Recently, MB was highlighted as one of the two most efficacious perinatal depression preventive interventions by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. With increased national attention, our research lab has received a growing number of inquiries from healthcare systems, community-based organizations, and city and state health departments to train their providers to deliver MB. This presentation will describe our model for scaling MB via training and technical assistance. It will also share results from research studies we have conducted examining the implementation and sustainment of MB.