Perinatal Mental Health Resources
for Providers
Practical guidance for recognizing concerns, responding within your scope, and connecting families with appropriate care.
What Perinatal Providers May Notice
Parents do not always identify what they are experiencing as a mental health concern. They may first mention exhaustion, feeding distress, physical symptoms, relationship strain, or feeling unlike themselves.
Possible signs include:
• Persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, guilt, or emotional numbness
• Distressing intrusive thoughts, repeated checking, avoidance, or reassurance seeking
• Difficulty sleeping even when there is an opportunity to rest
• Significant changes in self-care, eating, concentration, or daily functioning
• Feeling disconnected from the baby or unable to experience pleasure
• Sudden changes in energy, behavior, judgment, speech, or need for sleep
• Confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized behavior
One sign alone does not establish a diagnosis. Consider the severity, duration, progression, and effect on functioning.
Immediate medical attention is warranted for suspected postpartum psychosis or acute safety concerns.
When to Refer Out
Refer for a perinatal mental health assessment when symptoms are persistent, worsening, outside your professional scope, or interfering with sleep, feeding, self-care, relationships, or daily functioning.
Refer promptly when someone is experiencing:
• Depression, anxiety, panic, intrusive thoughts, trauma symptoms, or emotional distress that is not improving
• Repeated checking, avoidance, reassurance seeking, or compulsive behaviors
• Significant difficulty sleeping even when there is an opportunity to rest
• Difficulty caring for themselves, connecting with the baby, or completing daily tasks
• Rapid changes in mood, energy, behavior, judgment, speech, or need for sleep
• Symptoms that continue despite existing treatment or support
• A need for psychiatric assessment or medication management
Seek immediate emergency evaluation when there is:
• Suicidal intent, a plan, or an immediate risk of harm
• Intent or a plan to harm the baby or another person
• Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, severe confusion, mania, or loss of contact with reality
• An inability to maintain immediate safety
When possible, use a warm handoff rather than giving a family a name and expecting them to navigate the referral alone. Confirm the next step, provide contact information, and follow up within your role. Massachusetts guidance emphasizes having systems for assessment, referral, treatment, and follow-up rather than screening without a clear next step.
Local & Massachusetts Referral Resources
Availability, insurance participation, and level-of-care requirements may change. Providers and families should confirm current information directly with each program.
SOLEO Wellness
Duxbury, Massachusetts | 781-285-7379
https://www.soleowellness.com/
SOLEO offers specialized perinatal mental health care, including in-person and virtual day treatment, outpatient therapy, medication management, therapeutic groups, and integrative support. Its clinicians also incorporate trauma-informed care, somatic awareness, emotional processing, and nervous-system regulation. Provider referrals are accepted through a secure referral process.
Root + Rise Perinatal Health
Rockland, Massachusetts | 781-789-8795
https://rootandrisepostpartum.com/
Root + Rise provides perinatal-specific mental health care for pregnant and postpartum individuals who may need more support than traditional weekly therapy. Services include day treatment, medication management, individual and group therapy, partner and family support, holistic and mind-body therapies, and on-site infant support. Providers may submit referrals directly to the program.
MCPAP for Moms
Statewide provider consultation | 855-666-6272
https://www.mcpapformoms.org/
Massachusetts providers caring for pregnant and postpartum patients can contact MCPAP for Moms for real-time psychiatric consultation, clinical guidance, and help locating appropriate referral resources. The line is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.