We don t have to rely on mental health professionals
As perinatal depression soars during pandemic, there s a growing need for treatment
CHICAGO - Perinatal depression has soared during the pandemic. But many mental health professionals are overwhelmed and can t take on new clients.
Good news comes from a new Northwestern Medicine study finding paraprofessionals generated similar reductions in depressive symptoms as mental health professionals when delivering a group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention.
The study findings are based on adding home health visits by trained lay health professionals to low-income pregnant women in a national project called Mothers & Babies. Mothers and Babies is an intervention using cognitive behavioral therapy that aims to reduce stress and improve mood among pregnant women and new mothers.