Bonus Replay: Mind & Matter: A Deep Dive into Women’s Mental Health episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 28, 2025 · 52 MIN

Bonus Replay: Mind & Matter: A Deep Dive into Women’s Mental Health

from Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega · host Diane Ortega of Willow Birth Center

**BONUS REPLAY** In this compelling episode of The Midwife Life, host Diane Ortega sits down with Dr. Cara English, CEO of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies and an expert in perinatal mental health. Together, they explore the often overlooked but critical subject of mental health for women during pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. English shares her expertise on recognizing, understanding, and addressing perinatal mental health conditions, offering actionable advice and insights on building supportive systems that promote well-being for women at every stage. Key Takeaways: Understanding Perinatal Mental Health: What perinatal mental health encompasses, how it differs from postpartum depression, and why the distinction matters. Barriers to Care and Advocacy: Insights into the systemic challenges women face in receiving adequate mental health care and the innovative solutions being implemented in Arizona. Screening & Early Detection: Why early screening is critical and how providers can create safe spaces for open conversations about mental health. Building Community Support Systems: The role of peer support, community circles, and safe spaces for women to connect and find strength during challenging times. Self-Care Strategies and Beyond: Practical self-care approaches, counseling considerations, and the importance of support for partners and families. Did you enjoy this episode? If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Midwife Life for more insightful discussions on women’s health, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Share this episode with a friend or leave a review to help us reach more listeners on their health and wellness journeys. Together, we can make a difference. Resources Mentioned: Universal screening: ⁠https://policycentermmh.org/universal-screening-for-maternal-mental-health-disorders-issue-brief/?emci=94c440c6-0787-ef11-8474-6045bda8aae9&emdi=aa3abac5-3287-ef11-8474-6045bda8aae9&ceid=8744634⁠ Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): ⁠https://www.cope.org.au/health-professionals/health-professionals-3/calculating-score-epds/⁠ Patient Health Questionnaire and General Anxiety Disorder (PHQ-9 and GAD-7): ⁠https://uhs.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu1651/files/docs/PHQ-9%20and%20GAD-7%20Form_a.pdf⁠ Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ): ⁠https://novopsych.com.au/assessments/diagnosis/mood-disorder-questionnaire-mdq/⁠ Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire for Adults: ⁠https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ACE-Questionnaire-for-Adults-Identified-English-rev.7.26.22.pdf⁠ Somatic Therapies: ⁠https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-somatic-therapy-5190064⁠ SNOWBALL Mental Health Tips: ⁠https://birthwellbirthright.com/snowball-a-new-mothers-guide-to-postpartum-wellness/⁠ Recommended Reading: What Happened to You: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry: ⁠https://amzn.to/3YqrAto⁠ The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women by Anushay Hossain: ⁠https://amzn.to/3YhqTCK⁠ Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype: ⁠https://amzn.to/3BYtp9F⁠ It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told) by Karen Tang, MD, MPH: ⁠https://amzn.to/3Ur8wtZ⁠ Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Certificate, Women's Health ⁠Specialty⁠: ⁠https://cgi.edu/ibh-women/⁠ Trauma Informed Care Certificate: ⁠https://cgi.edu/tic/⁠ Connect with us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.midwife.life.co/ Website: themidwifelife.co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Midwife-LifeCo/61559303575840/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/themidwifelife/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 28, 2025

Embed this episode

Ready to play

Bonus Replay: Mind & Matter: A Deep Dive into Women’s Mental Health

0:00 52:06

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega episode published?

This episode was published on July 28, 2025.

Can I download this Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!