Educating Providers - The Key to Perinatal Mental Health with Kelly O'Connor

The biggest challenge in perinatal mental health is that providers aren't trained to recognize it.Kelly O'Connor, Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health NOW, shares how one mother's dismissed symptoms sparked an 18-year mission to transform perinatal mental healthcare. From training OB-GYNs to children's librarians, the organization has worked to close the provider knowledge gap that leaves too many families struggling in silence.Topics Covered: Why "postpartum depression" is actually a range of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. How provider training changes outcomes for entire families. California's groundbreaking legislation requiring provider education. Why a simple "How are you doing?" can be life-changing.Founded in 2007, Maternal Mental Health NOW transforms perinatal mental healthcare by training providers, supporting families, and advocating for policy change across Los Angeles County. Their mission is to ensure all new and expectant parents have access to culturally responsive mental health support. Learn more at https://maternalmentalhealthnow.org/The Impact: Untreated perinatal mental health conditions don't just affect parents— they impact bonding, child development, family stability, and multi-generational outcomes. But when providers are equipped to recognize and respond, early intervention becomes possible.Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction2:58 - The Founding Story: When Care Failed4:36 - Lack of Informed Providers: The Number One Barrier6:28 - Kelly's Personal Journey into This Work8:43 - Misconceptions About Perinatal Mental Health9:13 - Beyond "Postpartum Depression": Understanding the Full Spectrum10:14 - How Common Is It Really? The 1 in 5 Statistic10:45 - Why the Stigma Exists: Social Media vs. Reality11:19 - Provider Fear and Lack of Resources17:24 - The Training Work: From OB-GYNs to Librarians19:09 - Integrating Care into Primary Settings20:50 - Home Visitors vs. Clinical Settings: Screening Rate Comparison24:03 - Whose Responsibility Is Screening?25:00 - The Power of "How Are You Doing?"26:09 - A Pediatrician's Question That Changed Everything26:38 - Advice for Providers Watching This26:59 - California's Groundbreaking Legislation (AB 2193 & AB 3032)29:15 - The Accountability Gap in Current Laws31:15 - Multi-Generational Impact of Untreated Conditions33:45 - Social Media's Role in Unrealistic Expectations37:27 - Success Story: The Power of Storytelling41:01 - How to Support This WorkInterview Recorded On: March 20, 2026🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of mental health and policy. 🔗 Watch more interviews in the series: [tntopenmind.org] YouTube Tags (under 500 characters):perinatal mental health, postpartum depression, provider education, maternal mental health, healthcare training, OB-GYN training, perinatal anxiety, mental health advocacy, postpartum support, pregnancy mental health, provider screening, community health, California healthcare, maternal health policy, perinatal care, mental health stigma, healthcare professionals, clinical training, home visiting programs Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series on Soundwise