Postpartum depression is common, preventable, and treatable. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) challenge competition, “Cross-Sectional Innovation to Improve Rural Postpartum Mental Health,” identifies what communities are doing to improve access to mental healthcare for rural women. Furthermore, the challenge seeks new solutions to ensure that more women and families receive the help they need.
Many rural women face barriers to accessing postpartum mental health care. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, rural areas have healthcare provider shortages. Secondly, in rural areas, it takes longer to travel to a doctor, nurse, midwife, or therapist. Thirdly, if women are able to find a provider, they still have to pay for care and arrange childcare during the visit. Research suggests that people living in rural areas receive fewer psychotherapy visits than urban and suburban residents.
Consequently, rural families need cross-cutting solutions to get care for postpartum depression and anxiety. Possible solutions include those enabled by telehealth and digital health. Submissions to the challenge should show that the program uses cross-sectional partnerships to ensure that women can receive treatment and support for postpartum depression and anxiety.
Baby with mother suffering from postpartum depression
Rural community-based organizations are resilient. Therefore, AHRQ hopes to find community success stories that tell a compelling story about a program that improved postpartum mental health. Furthermore, AHRQ will support two small scale programs that leverage evidence-based practices to improve postpartum mental health.
Success Stories to Highlight What Works
Communities have been taking steps to ensure that women and families are able to access the mental healthcare that they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, organizations that have implemented programs in rural communities that prevent, screen for, or provide postpartum depression or anxiety care are invited to submit their success story to AHRQ (deadline: September 15, 2020).
Some interventions that may work in rural communities include the Reach Out, Stand Strong, Essentials (ROSE) for New Mothers program, or the Mothers and Babies Program. Moreover, there is also research that suggests that telephone-based outreach and internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy may work. Within this challenge, success stories will be evaluated based on the community assessment participants provide. Furthermore, participants should include a logic model of how the program works and the evidence base for the intervention. In addition, success stories should provide metrics that demonstrate how the program makes a difference in the lives of women. AHRQ will use these stories to increase awareness of effective programs to improve postpartum depression and anxiety care. Five winners will receive $15,000 each for their success story.
Programs that Build and Foster Cross-Sector Partnerships
AHRQ also seeks brief proposals for programs that will improve rural postpartum mental health. Postpartum depression and anxiety negatively impact women, infants, and families. Programs to address these problems can ensure that rural families no longer suffer needlessly. Program proposals should use evidence-based approaches to prevention, screening, and treatment and leverage community resources and cross-sectoral partnerships. Two winners will receive a $50,000 cash prize which may be used to support the cost of running the program.
Innovation in Care Delivery in Rural Communities
Now is an ideal time to leverage innovation in mental health care delivery. There have been many advances in using technology to address postpartum depression and anxiety. Community organizations, local health departments, and doctors, nurses, midwives, and therapists can use these advances to ensure that postpartum mental services are available to rural women and families.
Priscilla Novak
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