Community Conversation: Perinatal Mental Health in PCBH

May 15th, 2024
Community Conversation: Perinatal Mental Health in PCBH

Description:
Our May Community Conversation focused on integrated behavioral health care models in outpatient obstetrical settings. Integrated services in community, academic, VA, and private sector obstetrical care are vital to improving the health and well-being of patients before, during, and after pregnancy. OB providers, national professional organizations across health, and mental health disciplines, and consumer advocacy groups are all advocating for increased integration of behavioral health providers in obstetrical settings to improve access to care and patient outcomes.

Presenters:
Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP, President and Clinical Director, Health Psychology Solutions: Helen L. Coons, Ph.D., ABPP is the President and Clinical Director of Women’s Mental Health Associates and Health Psychology Solutions, Denver, Colorado. Dr. Coons is a board-certified clinical health psychologist known for developing integrated services in women’s health settings including women’s primary care, primary and specialty obstetrics and gynecology, and oncology practices. Dr. Coons has worked with individuals and couples facing perinatal mental health conditions, pregnancy complications, recurrent pregnancy loss, and infertility for over three decades. She routinely presents to providers and teams on trauma-informed approaches and navigating medical errors. In addition, Dr. Coons consults at the national level on women’s health issues and program development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated services in women’s health care.

Bethany Ashby, PsyD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, CUSOM: Dr. Ashby is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Ob/Gyn at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She currently directs three integrated behavioral health programs in obstetrics and pediatrics at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Ashby has worked in perinatal mental health for over a decade and has expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of perinatal mental health services in integrated care settings.

Jennifer Thomas, MD, FASAM brings over 14 years of experience in primary care to the CFHA team. As a board-certified physician in family medicine and addiction medicine. Dr. Thomas practices in a community-based, rural setting in northern Illinois and serves as the founder and Medical Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Morris Hospital. As a leader in developing partnerships between academic research settings and community-based providers, Dr. Thomas works as an Affiliate Trainer for the University of Washington AIMS Center to support fellow clinicians in developing Integrated Care in their practice settings. In addition to primary care and behavioral health, Dr. Thomas is passionate about incorporating treatment for Substance Use Disorders into the primary care setting.