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According to researchers, postpartum depression disproportionately affects Black women, but they are less likely to receive treatment, with disparities linked to race and gender biases in the medical field.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for affordable, accessible treatment has skyrocketed, leaving many African American women without adequate mental health support.
In response to the growing need, Midtown Community Services has partnered with Thoughts Out Loud Counseling to offer free virtual group therapy and individual counseling to moms in its Family PRIDE healthy baby program.
In June, Midtown’s parent educators observed a significant increase in general anxiety, postpartum depression, financial stress and intimate partner violence among the 50 families they served. Many mothers were also experiencing overwhelming grief after losing loved ones to COVID-19, and anxiety related to social injustice in the U.S.
“Many moms who are struggling can’t find counseling related to their needs, and if they can, they can’t afford it due to a lack of insurance and other financial constraints,” said Charlan Williams-Moore, Family PRIDE coordinator. “By partnering with Black therapists who are attuned to the culturally sensitive issues our parents are facing, we can address past and current trauma, work with them to develop successful coping mechanisms, and help them build stronger, more secure attachments with their children, moving forward.”
Thanks to recent grants from the NISA Charitable Fund through NISA Investment Advisors and FLOURISH St. Louis, Midtown was able to partner with counselors at Thoughts Out Loud Counseling to provide free online group therapy sessions to Family PRIDE moms once a month and virtual, one-hour individual counseling sessions twice a month to those parents most at risk.
Free services are made possible by grants from the NISA Charitable Fund through NISA Investment Advisors and FLOURISH St. Louis. To learn more, visit midtowncs.org.
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