Maternal mental health and child outcomes: a human-centered design perspective on preventive mental health care

Abstract

The lifelong cost of mental health disorders to children, families, and society is substantial and far-reaching. Mental health conditions are also significant contributors to the global disease burden. To reduce this burden and improve well-being across the lifespan, a preventive approach to mental health focused on awareness and early intervention is necessary. Neural development begins soon after conception and rapidly continues for the first five years after the birth of a child. Preventive measures thus need to be taken even before birth. Better management of mental health during the perinatal and postpartum periods can improve child outcomes. This thesis analyzes the existing treatments and care delivery methods for maternal mental health conditions through systems and design thinking frameworks. The overall objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the mental healthcare system in the United States and to advocate for a patient-centric approach to care. The outcome of this study is a set of recommendations for innovators in the mental healthcare space. These are meant to serve as a guide to develop interventions that augment functionality with empathy.