The American Association of Pediatrics has called on pediatric providers to screen for postpartum depression and coordinate care with obstetric and community providers.  

Andrea Diaz Stransky, MD, and Carolina Alford, LCSW led an interactive webinar where participants gained an appreciation of common beliefs about pregnancy and postpartum in the Latino/a community. They discussed the daily realities that pregnant patients face, the nuances of clinical diagnosis in Latino/a pregnant patients, as well as strategies to leverage our patients’ strengths in … Read more

Mary Kimmel, MD and Andrea Diaz-Stransky, MD-BHSc When pregnant and postpartum people suffer from depression and/or anxiety, they can struggle to connect with their babies in healthy ways. This can lead to difficulties with bonding and attachment. Insecure attachment in mother-child dyads can lead to increased anxiety and emotional problems for the mother, as well … Read more

Pregnant and postpartum women and their families are experiencing high levels of stress at this time. Learn about NC MATTERS and the SUMMIT Study: two mental health care access programs within the Perinatal Psychiatry department at UNC that support providers and patients via teletherapy, psychiatric assessments, real-time provider consultation, and resource/referral support.

NC MATTERS Medical Director Mary Kimmel and Program Manager Karen Burns recorded a training video for health care providers learning to provide supportive services to pregnant patients with a history of trauma. Topics covered include PMAD symptoms, use of appropriate screening tools, evidence-based treatments, and how NC MATTERS can help along the way. Find the … Read more

Ever wonder what a consultation call on the NC MATTERS line might sound like? Dr. Mary Kimmel and Nurse-Midwife Karen Saxer teamed up with our partners at MAHEC to offer a sample as part of their new podcast, Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond. Click here to find the episode, or you can find the … Read more

Are you in need of more support? There is hope. Below is a non-extensive list of available resources for both patients struggling with mental health or substance use and their providers. Program Is this service for patients or providers? Description Contact Information Location Mobile Crisis Patients Mobile Crisis Teams are available 24/7 in all NC … Read more

Physiologic changes in pregnancy can make sleep more difficult. Sleep disturbances affect 75% of pregnant people, peaking in the third trimester.

Learn more about how Duke University and UNC work together to offer the North Carolina Psychiatric Access Line, which powers both NC MATTERS and the North Carolina Telehealth Partnership for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Access. This short video explains why psychiatric access programs are essential for perinatal and pediatric mental health in North Carolina, and … Read more

NC MATTERS Medical Director Dr. Mary Kimmel presented at the 2nd Annual Congressional Briefing on Maternal Mental Health and Suicide on June 8, 2021. The event was sponsored by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, March of Dimes, and Sage Therapeutics in cooperation with a number of national organizations aimed at promoting maternal mental health. … Read more