Barriers to help-seeking behavior for maternal mental health disorders: Application of the health belief model

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have become a leading cause of maternal mortality due to suicide among women in the first year following pregnancy. Although the profile for new mothers who die by suicide is predominantly white, disparities exist between Black and White women in their seeking help for perinatal and/or post-natal mood disorders. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), there are differences in the perceptions of the benefits of seeking help for PMADs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal mental health disorders in the United States particularly for women who live in communities with limited access to maternity care. This paper proposes a two-fold approach: Health Belief Model combined with Community-based Participatory Research/Engagement (CBPR/E) to reduce disparities in seeking care for PMADs with recommendations of strategies for working in rural communities.