Why Postpartum Mental Health is Overlooked (And How We Can Change That)

Postpartum mental health care has long been treated as an afterthought in the healthcare system. While birthing parents are carefully monitored during pregnancy, the focus often shifts to the baby once birth has occurred. New parents are sent home with little more than a brief, six-week postpartum checkup, which primarily addresses physical recovery rather than emotional health.

As mental health professionals, we see the consequences of this neglect every day. Depression, anxiety, and trauma often go untreated, leaving new parents to struggle in silence. In this post, we’ll explore why postpartum mental health is overlooked, how it disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, and what Tulia Grove is doing to fill the gap.

The Historical Context of Maternal Mental Health

Historically, maternal mental health has been overlooked due to the perception that motherhood is "natural" and therefore should be easy. Societal messages that label motherhood as an instinctive role discourage parents from admitting to mental health struggles for fear of judgment or stigma.

Medical training has also focused primarily on the physical aspects of childbirth, reinforcing the idea that once a birthing parent’s body has healed, they should automatically feel better emotionally.

The Six-Week Postpartum Checkup Problem

Most birthing parents are only seen by their obstetrician once at the six-week mark—if at all. This checkup typically assesses:

Vaginal or C-section healing

Bleeding and discharge

Birth control options

However, what’s missing from this checkup is a comprehensive mental health screening. Many parents are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety at this point, but without structured mental health follow-up, they go unnoticed.

Racial Disparities in Postpartum Mental Health Care

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) face even greater barriers to postpartum mental health care:

Black women are nearly twice as likely as white women to experience postpartum depression, yet are far less likely to receive treatment.

Language barriers and cultural insensitivity in healthcare settings make it difficult for Latinx and Indigenous parents to access appropriate care.

Financial barriers and lack of insurance coverage disproportionately affect low-income parents.

How Tulia Grove is Changing the Landscape

At Tulia Grove, we’ve designed our program to address these systemic gaps in care. Our program includes:

Comprehensive postpartum mental health assessments at intake

Trauma-informed care that addresses birth trauma and historical mistrust in healthcare

Culturally competent providers trained in the unique challenges facing BIPOC parents

Group therapy and peer support tailored to marginalized communities

Call to Action

Postpartum mental health care should be treated with the same urgency and seriousness as any other medical condition. Healing from childbirth requires more than physical recovery—it requires emotional and psychological support.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed after birth, you are not alone. Tulia Grove is here to help.