Maternal Mental Health Hotline Highlighted in National Awareness Effort

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is working with retailers, grocers, pharmacies, health and community associations, and other collaborators across all 50 states to raise awareness of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 1-833-TLC-MAMA.

The hotline was launched in 2022 to combat maternal mortality. It offers free, confidential 24/7 mental health support for moms and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. Users can call or text the hotline for support. Importantly, the hotline is not a crisis line; people in suicidal crisis should call or text 988 for crisis support or call 911 if they are in imminent danger of harm to self or others.

The hotline is staffed by professional counselors, licensed health care providers such as nurses or doctors, mental health clinicians, certified doulas or childbirth educators, and peer support specialists. Counselors are trained to provide immediate support, direct callers to information and resources, and refer callers to local or telehealth providers for further care. Both English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are available, and the hotline offers interpreters who can support 60 other languages.  

As part of the nationwide effort, HRSA announced the names of six businesses and organizations that will help raise awareness about the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline by displaying promotional materials in prominent locations for their patients or customers — Albertsons Companies, Babylist, Children’s Hospital Association, CVS Health, National Diaper Bank Network, and Walgreens — and noted that more will be announced in the months leading up to National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in May 2025.

Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth. A mother’s mental health status both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period impacts her well-being and her child’s development and health. ACHI has examined maternal behavioral health as part of our focus on maternal and infant health in Arkansas. In 2021, 1 in 5 new Arkansas mothers experienced postpartum depression, signaling the importance of depression screening during the birthing journey.

Unfortunately, follow-up care is often lacking for Arkansas mothers who have an emergency room visit or inpatient stay related to a behavioral health event in the postpartum period. An ACHI analysis found that among 80,704 Arkansas mothers who gave birth between Jan. 1, 2019, and June 30, 2022, 59% had no outpatient follow-up visit within 120 days of an emergency room visit, and 56% had no outpatient follow-up visit within 120 days of an inpatient stay.