Arizona hotline to support mental health during and after pregnancy
Dr Emerick, right, and Dr Kalia, left, discuss the upcoming Arizona Perinatal Psychiatry Access Line.
UAHS
Mental and behavioral health conditions are also a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S. In Arizona, nearly half of all pregnancy-associated deaths are due to mental health or substance use issues, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services, and an estimated 98% of those deaths are preventable.
Kalia and Dr. Kathryn Emerick, also a perinatal psychiatrist at the University of Arizona, are teaming up to address the problem.
The pair are working to launch a statewide hotline next spring for providers who serve the perinatal population. Instead of trying to connect patients directly to psychiatrists, the resource hotline will connect health care providers directly to psychiatrists to facilitate consultations about a patient’s mental health.
“The idea would be that they could call the line and they would get connected to a perinatal psychiatrist within two or three minutes, be able to talk through the case, and get direct recommendations,” Kalia said.