The number of U.S. counties at high risk of maternal mental-health disorders rose from 700 in 2023 to 796, and counties with “severe” risk nearly tripled from 24 to 92, according to a Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health report.
The report provided an in-depth analysis of county-level maternal mental health disorder risk, and the availability of providers and programs. Risk was determined by using Bureau of Census data and predictors of maternal mental health. Resources were determined by measures including perinatal mental health certified providers, psychiatrists who self-certify as having expertise in maternal mental health and community-based organizations providing maternal mental health services. These were combined into a risk score based on 22 measures, which were used to create a point scale of up to 45. “High-risk” counties were those with a score of 25 or more and “severe risk” counties had a score of 33 or above.
Here are seven things to know:
1. About 84% of birthing-aged women live in U.S. maternal mental health resource shortage areas, down from 96% in 2023.
2. Nearly 150 counties are in “dark zones” with both high-risk and large resource shortages. Most of these counties are in Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
3. Eighty-seven counties saw a risk factor score increase by eight or more points since 2023. Most of those counties were in Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio. The counties with the highest increase in risk factor score were Esmeralda County, Nev., and Henderson County, N.C., which both increased by 12 points.
4. Rises in risk factors are largely attributed to rising rates of intimate partner or psychological aggression, community violence and mothers of young children reporting “fair” or “poor” mental health.
5. For counties with “severe risk,” increased risk was related to domestic violence, lack of emotional support, parental unemployment, poverty, low educational attainment, high rates of unintended pregnancy, single-motherhood, teen births, preterm births, self-reported poor mental health and struggles coping with child-rearing.
6. While many of the high-risk counties were in rural areas, the report also highlighted a number of urban counties with highest risk:
- Hidalgo County, Texas (McAllen)
- Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City)
- Tulsa County, Okla. (Tulsa)
- Jefferson Parish, La. (New Orleans)
- Mobile County, Ala. (Mobile)
- Pulaski County, Ark. (Little Rock)
7. Sixty counties saw a decline in risk scores. Most of the low-risk counties were in the Midwest and northern East Coast regions.
