Studying Perinatal Well-being

This month’s podcast features an insightful interview with Dr. Karlene Cunningham, who leads essential support for birthing individuals of color. Her work with doulas highlights the importance of recognizing and uplifting the talents and gifts that communities already offer to birthing people. Dr. Cunningham also discusses how her early research on adolescent sexual relationships can inform interventions and studies related to birthing individuals. Additionally, she shares her pioneering efforts to ensure that AI research includes voices often marginalized or overlooked in developing interventions. Guest bio Dr. Karlene Cunningham earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University and completed an internship in Behavioral Medicine at Brown University's Alpert Medical School. She has also completed NIH-funded fellowships in Adolescent/Young Adult Bio-behavioral HIV research, Clinical and Community-Based HIV/AIDS, and Leadership in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Health Equity. Dr. Cunningham is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine. She directs the Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Engagement (SHaRE2) lab. Her passion lies in using a reproductive justice lens to address gaps in perinatal mental health research and improve systems of care for birthing people, especially those in marginalized and rural communities. Her clinical work focuses on hospital-based consultation-liaison, specializing in reproductive psychology.

This month's MONA podcast guest is Dr. Cindy H. Liu, who examines the critical experiences of adolescents and college students to understand complex developmental and cultural experiences. Dr. Liu shares findings from a COVID-19-related study highlighting how unexpected residential moves affected college students’ mental health. We also hear about her current fascinating study that examines the intersection between identity, discrimination, and mental health among Chinese American adolescents. This line of research can help pave the way for understanding the perinatal experiences of racially and ethnically diverse individuals. Guest biograph:Cindy H. Liu, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, the Director of the Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Program, and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School within the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry. She also serves as the Director of the NICU Parent Mental Health Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her program of research focuses on the measurement and mechanisms of stress and its impact on mental health across key points within the developmental lifespan and implications for women, children, and underrepresented populations. She is currently a principal investigator for several studies, including the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) Study, a longitudinal study that seeks to understand the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women throughout the pandemic and the COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study (CARES) which focuses on mental health and well-being in diverse young adults. She is also the principal investigator of the BOBA Project (www.thebobaproject.com), a study funded by three NIH grants that examine how Chinese American teens learn about the Asian identity within their family, their peers, and social media. Her work has been funded by foundations and philanthropy and featured in various outlets, including the New York Times, USA Today, and CBS News. In 2023, she received Clarivate’s Highly Cited designation, awarded to scientists with the top 1% of citations. She received her degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon and completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital.

Acompáñenos este mes para un podcast informativo y muy relevante. La Dra. Palacios Hernández brinda información invaluable sobre la salud mental perinatal en México, incluidos los efectos de los desastres naturales, la pandemia y los factores contextuales. También aborda la importancia de crear espacios seguros y promover el apoyo social para reducir la violencia contra las mujeres, reduciendo así el riesgo de salud mental perinatal adversa. La Dra. Palacios Hernández llama a otros a la acción e inspira a otros a unirse a la fuerza laboral de salud mental perinatal de México. Este episodio del podcast menciona un tema delicado como lo es el abuso sexual infantil. Se recomienda discreción al escuchar, especialmente para aquellos que puedan haber experimentado traumas infantiles similares. Ofrecemoslos siguientes recursos en español:La Línea de Ayuda Nacional Online de Abuso Sexual: https://www.rainn.org/esEl Centro Nacional de Recursos sobre Violencia Sexual (NSVRC): https://www.nsvrc.org/es/find-helpDirectorio de organizaciones: https://www.nsvrc.org/es/organizations?field_organizations_target_id=8&field_states_territories_target_id=AllLa Dra. Palacios Hernández tiene una Licenciatura en Psicología y Maestría en Psicología Clínica por la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) y un Doctorado en Psicología Clínica y de la Salud por la Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, en España. La Dra. Palacios Hernández es Profesora Investigadora de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, donde es coordinadora del laboratorio de salud mental perinatal. La línea de investigaciones de la Dra. Palacios Hernández se enfoca en la salud mental en adultos, especialmente en la etapa perinatal, con un énfasis en la evaluación y análisis de la psicopatología materna y sus factores asociados. Además, con un enfoque en la calidad del vínculo materno-infantil en el posparto, diseño y adaptación de instrumentos y estrategias de la salud mental. Actualmente, la Dra. Palacios Hernández es co-presidenta del Consorcio Internacional de la Entrevista Stafford en Salud Mental Materna, miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores de México con nivel 1 y forma parte de la Sociedad Internacional Marcé de Norteamérica con membresía en la sociedad Marcé de Norteamérica, las redes Iberoamericana, Latinoamericana y Mexicana de Salud Mental Perinatal. ENGLISH:Join us this month for an informative and highly relevant podcast. Dr. Palacios Hernández provides invaluable insights into perinatal mental health in Mexico, including the effects of natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and contextual factors. She also discusses the importance of creating safe spaces and promoting social support to reduce violence against women, thereby reducing the risk of adverse perinatal mental health. Dr. Palacios Hernández calls others to action and inspires others to join Mexico's perinatal mental health workforce.  This episode mentions a sensitive topic, such as child sexual abuse. Discretion in listening is encouraged, especially for those who may have experienced similar childhood trauma. We offer the following resources in Spanish: La Línea de Ayuda Nacional Online de Abuso Sexual: https://www.rainn.org/es El Centro Nacional de Recursos sobre Violencia Sexual (NSVRC): https://www.nsvrc.org/es/find-help Directorio de organizaciones: 

Join us this month to learn about the critical findings on the effects of natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal women in Puerto Rico. Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez also provides policy recommendations for ensuring perinatal people have the social support needed during large-scale events. She also shares exciting information about research opportunities for clinicians interested in working with Latinos in Puerto Rico and the US. You’ll enjoy her Spanish call to research engagement at minute 36:40 of the bilingual interview.For more information about training opportunities, please contact Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez at [email protected]. Karen G. Martinez-Gonzalez, MD, MSc, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  She is an Associate Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, where she directs the Center for the Study and Treatment of Fear and Anxiety and is the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. She also completed a post-doctoral master’s in clinical and translational research in 2006 and is now the program's Principal Investigator (R25MD007607) and Director.  She was also one of the Principal Investigators (R21MD013652) of a grant studying the epigenetic and microbial profile of prenatal stress related to Hurricane María in collaboration with the School of Dental Medicine.  She is one of the Principal Investigators of the Puerto Rico Racial & Ethnic Minority Acceleration Consortium for Health Equity (PR-REACH) FDA award U01FD007977.  She is an active member of several professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Trauma and Disaster Committee, past president of the Puerto Rico Chapter, and past president of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).  Her current research work is on stress-related disorders and how to promote wellness among highly traumatized or stressed populations.  She is a founding member of the University of Puerto Rico Center for Perinatal Mental Health.

Listen to this month’s episode with Adrienne Griffen, who offers strategic recommendations for increasing policy engagement to address perinatal mental health needs. As a national perinatal mental health advocate with more than two decades of experience, Griffen provides listeners with insightful steps to expand on the incredible work of non-profit organizations like the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (mmhla.org).  Adrienne Griffen, MPP, is the Executive Director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (mmhla.org) and a nationally recognized advocate and subject matter expert in maternal mental health. Fueled by her lived experience with postpartum depression, Adrienne has led two non-profit organizations addressing maternal mental health. She is a featured speaker at national conferences and events. She has advocated for more than $200 million in federal funding for maternal mental health programs, which resulted in $68.5 million funded. Adrienne graduated from the US Naval Academy with a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Her early career included military and federal government service at the White House, Pentagon, and IRS. 

Dr. Boyd has expertise in adapting interventions for adolescents and perinatal people, particularly African Americans. Listen to this month’s episode to learn about the innovative strategies deployed by Dr. Boyd to ensure interventions are culturally sensitive and reduce perinatal depressive symptoms, improve parenting, and address suicidal ideation. Dr. Rhonda C. Boyd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Additionally, she is a researcher at CHOP PolicyLab and a member of the National Scientific Council on Adolescence. Dr. Boyd is the Associate Director of the CHOP’s Child and Adolescent Mood Program in the outpatient clinic, where Dr. Boyd practices as a licensed psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of youth with depression and suicide risk. She has served as a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on multiple federal grants, including those from the National Institutes of Health and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Dr. Boyd has conducted several studies examining maternal depression and its impact on children, particularly focused on Black families. She has developed and adapted interventions for urban, diverse families with maternal depression in multiple settings, such as community, mental health, and primary care. Dr. Boyd is a Co-Investigator for two Practice-Based Suicide Prevention Research Centers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. She is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association. 

Muchos miembros de la comunidad invierten en atender las necesidades de las comunidades perinatales. Este mes, Xochitl comparte sugerencias perspicaces para involucrar a las mujeres perinatales latinas y de habla hispana y a las comunidades latinas en investigaciones e intervenciones. Xochitl también ofrece a los miembros de la comunidad consejos para participar en la investigación.  Este episodio del podcast menciona un tema delicado como lo es el abuso sexual infantil. El testimonio que se presenta puede resultar desafiantes para algunos oyentes. Se recomienda discreción al escuchar, especialmente para aquellos que puedan haber experimentado traumas infantiles similares. Enel episodio se menciona el abuso.Ofrecemoslos siguientes recursos en español:La Línea de Ayuda Nacional Online de Abuso Sexual: https://www.rainn.org/es El Centro Nacional de Recursos sobre Violencia Sexual (NSVRC): https://www.nsvrc.org/es/find-help Directorio de organizaciones: https://www.nsvrc.org/es/organizations?field_organizations_target_id=8&field_states_territories_target_id=All Xochitl Carlos Méndez es la Gerente del Programa Cultural en Español de la Alianza de Salud Mental Perinatal para Personas de Color en Postpartum Support International (PSI). Es una líder dedicada que encabeza los esfuerzos de divulgación en los países de habla hispana y crea alianzas estratégicas con organizaciones globales y proveedores perinatales. Con una formación arraigada en México, Xochitl tiene una licenciatura en Educación Especial y una maestría en Psicoterapia Infantil. Poseedora de una sólida experiencia en defensa y activismo por las comunidades más vulnerables, Xochitl encabezó numerosos proyectos sociales y cofundó múltiples organizaciones sin fines de lucro en México, lo que la llevó a obtener honores y premios en derechos humanos. Al emigrar a los Estados Unidos, su defensa se desplazó hacia la intersección de las mujeres, las sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica, la salud mental y la comunidad inmigrante. Después de su viaje hacia la maternidad, donde experimentó trastornos perinatales del estado de ánimo y ansiedad (PMAD, por sus siglas en inglés), Xochitl centró sus esfuerzos en crear conciencia, educar y difundir información sobre PMAD entre los profesionales del campo perinatal y su comunidad circundante. El objetivo de Xóchitl es establecer una nueva realidad en la que las madres que se enfrentan a PMAD tengan acceso a profesionales adecuadamente capacitados y culturalmente sensibles que satisfagan sus necesidades y reduzcan el sufrimiento.LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/xochitlcarlosmendezPSI : https://www.postpartum.net/staff/xochitl-carlos-mendez/  

Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in perinatal mental health care and research requires a conscious effort at all professional levels. Join us this month to learn why diversity, equity, and inclusion are needed now. Listen to how Dr. Fisher’s research and administrative activities address important gaps in the field.Dr. Fisher is an Associate Professor and perinatal clinical psychologist at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at The Graduate School. His research focuses on the effects of perinatal and subsequent parental mental health on infant/child health outcomes, with a specialization in the emerging field of father mental health. He aims to reconceptualize parental mental health research to integrally involve fathers to differentiate parents’ impact on a child's medical and mental health. Dr. Fisher’s research dovetails with his perinatal clinical practice, including being the clinical director of the Fathers’ Mental Health Specialty Clinic. He also chairs the International Marcé Society’s Fathers Special Interest Group and the MONA Taskforce for Spanish-speaking countries. His research aims to optimize the health and effectiveness of the parental team to influence the child's health trajectory starting in pregnancy positively.

Helping patients make decisions about treatment during the perinatal period is a critical process for the birth person and their provider. Dr. Simone Vigod, MD, explains how her team developed a patient decision aid. Dr. Vigod also shares the research benefits of large datasets. Dr. Simone Vigod (MD 2003, FRCPC 2009) is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital, one of the University of Toronto’s nine fully affiliated academic health sciences centers. Dr. Vigod is a leading expert in perinatal mood disorders and has conducted some of the largest studies worldwide on maternal mental illness around the time of pregnancy. Mental illness at this life stage poses unique risks to mothers and their children at a critical juncture in both of their lives. Her research is helping raise awareness about gaps in access to specialized perinatal mental healthcare and identifying vulnerable populations where these gaps are most prominent. She also designs and evaluates novel health system interventions to improve access to and care uptake for affected women. Dr. Vigod leads a clinical research program at Women’s College Hospital as a Senior Scientist and the Shirley A. Brown Memorial Chair in Women’s Mental Health Research at the Women’s College Research Institute. She is a Senior Adjunct Scientist at ICES in Toronto, Ontario, where population-level administrative health data for her epidemiological studies are securely held.

Este mes, discutimos la investigación específica del sexo y el papel del sexismo en la salud mental perinatal con la Dra. Blanca Bolea-Alamanac. Escuche las perspicaces observaciones y hallazgos que la Dra. Bolea-Alamanac ha realizado utilizando grandes conjuntos de datos y a través de su programa de radio en español ofrecido en Toronto, Ontario.La Dra. Bolea-Alamanac es profesora asistente de psiquiatría en el Women's College Hospital de la Universidad de Toronto, Centro de Adicción y Salud Mental, y directora de SCOPE (Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience). La Dra. Bolea-Alamanac recibió un doctorado en Epidemiología Psiquiátrica centrado en la salud materno-infantil de la Universidad de Bristol, Reino Unido, y una maestría en Neurociencia Afectiva de la Universidad de Maastricht, Holanda. Sus intereses de investigación incluyen la salud mental materno-perinatal, el TDAH en adultos, la psicofarmacología de género, el síndrome de boca ardiente y la epidemiología psiquiátrica. Obtenga más información sobre el Dr. Bolea-Alamanac en:https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/blanca-bolea-alamanachttps://ca.linkedin.com/in/blanca-bolea-73a92842https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Blanca-BoleaThis month, we discuss sex-specific research and the role of sexism on perinatal mental health with Dr. Blanca Bolea-Alamanac. Listen to the insightful observations and findings Dr. Bolea-Alamanac has made using large datasets and through her Spanish-language radio program offered in Toronto, Ontario.Dr. Bolea-Alamanac is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital at the University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Director of SCOPE (Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience). Dr. Bolea-Alamanac received a PhD in Psychiatric Epidemiology focusing on maternal and child health from the University of Bristol, UK, and a master’s degree in Affective Neuroscience from Maastricht University, Holland. Her research interests include Maternal Perinatal Mental Health, Adult ADHD, Gender Psychopharmacology, Burning Mouth Syndrome, and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Learn more about Dr. Bolea-Alamanac at:https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/blanca-bolea-alamanac https://ca.linkedin.com/in/blanca-bolea-73a92842 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Blanca-Bolea  

This month, we kick off the Spanish language MONA podcast with Dr. Jorge Osma, PhD, president of the Marcé of Spain. (MARES https://marcesociety.com/regional-groups/spanish-marce-society/). If you want to brush up on your Spanish or are proficient, you’ll enjoy this podcast! Dr. Osma shares useful tips for conducting online studies with perinatal people. He also provides excellent tips for mentors and mentees. Spanish transcription is available.Este mes, iniciamos el podcast MONA en español con el Dr. Jorge Osma, PhD, presidente del Marcé de España (MARES https://marcesociety.com/regional-groups/spanish-marce-society/). Si quieres repasar su español o dominas el lenguaje, ¡disfrutarás de este podcast! El Dr. Osma comparte consejos útiles para realizar estudios en línea con personas perinatales. También proporciona excelentes consejos para mentores y aprendices. La transcripción en español está disponible.

Listen to this month’s Studying Perinatal Well-being interview with Dr. Payne, the Vice Chair of Research in the Psychiatry Department and Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. Dr. Payne established the Reproductive Psychiatry Research Program at the University of Virginia. Dr. Payne is the current MONA and Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health president. In this month’s episode, Dr. Payne shares cutting-edge findings on epigenetic biomarkers for postpartum depression. She also discusses plans for the 2023 Marcé of North America biennial conference and the 2024 International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health biennial conference in Spain.

Discover the inspiring story of Dr. Katherine Wisner.  Explore how Dr. Wisner convened a group of perinatal specialists at the historic Perinatal Mental Health Conference in Chicago, IL, leading to the creation of the Marcé of North America, also known as MONA. You will also hear about Dr. Wisner’s critical work addressing the needs of perinatal women with mood and anxiety disorders. Send comments to [email protected] L. Wisner, M.D., is a distinguished pioneer in perinatal psychiatry, currently serving as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society. In this role, Dr. Wisner joins a team of esteemed experts to assess the health, social, and economic impact of reproductive healthcare access both within the United States and globally. Their valuable evaluations inform the development of relevant programs and activities at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. With an extensive academic background, including an M.S. in Nutrition and an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University, as well as board certifications in general and child and adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Wisner has gained international recognition for her research on mood disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Her contributions have earned her substantial funding and prestigious awards from renowned medical associations and societies. Dr. Wisner's commitment to advancing reproductive health equity aligns seamlessly with her passion for perinatal psychiatry and her dedicated service to the field. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she enjoys family picnics, perennial gardening, dressage riding, and she remains an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan.