Brooklyn College, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the New York City Health Department, and United for Brownsville, recently hosted the inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Summit on April 4. The event, aimed at addressing the alarming maternal mortality rates among Black and Brown mothers in New York City, especially in Brooklyn and the Bronx, drew over 200 attendees. The summit focused on the urgent need to raise awareness about perinatal mental health issues, which are now recognized as a leading contributor to maternal deaths.
The maternal mortality rate for Black and Brown mothers in these boroughs is about nine times higher than for White mothers. While physical complications such as infections, hemorrhaging, and high blood pressure disorders are commonly associated with maternal deaths, mental health issues during pregnancy and the postpartum period are increasingly recognized as a major cause.
The Significance of the Summit
The event, which featured over a dozen interdisciplinary health and mental health experts, was spearheaded by Brooklyn College and led by Associate Professor Jacqueline Shannon and Clinical Professor Haroula Ntalla. It offered a platform for experts to discuss tangible solutions and share resources for both families and healthcare providers. The summit’s discussions highlighted the growing crisis and the need for immediate action to improve perinatal mental health care, particularly for communities of color.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean
One of the highlights of the summit was the keynote speech by Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and advocate for equitable healthcare for underrepresented minority women. Dr. Saint-Jean, who is a faculty member at New York Medical College’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and serves on both the New York City and State Maternal Mortality Review Boards, emphasized the alarming statistics surrounding perinatal mental health. She pointed out that mental health issues during the perinatal period are now the leading cause of maternal deaths and stressed the severe lack of support systems for women of color, especially in Brooklyn.
Addressing the Need for Specialized Training
The summit also marked the unveiling of New York State’s first Perinatal Mental Health Advanced Certificate Program, which was introduced a day earlier at Brooklyn Borough Hall by President Michelle J. Anderson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. This program aims to provide specialized training in perinatal mental health to address the growing need for expertise in this field. The curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary team from Brooklyn College, including faculty from psychology, health and nutrition sciences, and early childhood education.
This initiative, overseen by Shannon and Ntalla, is part of a broader effort to ensure that healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to better support women experiencing perinatal mental health challenges. The pilot courses for the program are already underway, with the full cohort set to begin in the fall of 2025.
The Future of Perinatal Mental Health Care
Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson praised the summit as an important step in addressing maternal health disparities in Brooklyn and beyond. She highlighted the strength of the partnerships between academia, healthcare providers, and community leaders, which will drive future change in perinatal mental health care.
The summit exemplified the vital need for increased awareness, support systems, and education to address perinatal mental health issues and improve maternal health outcomes. As emphasized by the event’s speakers, particularly Dr. Saint-Jean, the work is just beginning, and systemic changes are required to ensure better mental health care for mothers, especially those from historically marginalized communities.
