3/7/2024 Grand Rounds

Maithri Ameresekere, MD, MSc, PMH-C
Director of the Program for Reproductive Mental Health Equity
at BMC/BUCASM, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center;
Clinical Associate Professor Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Joelle Taos Taknint, PhD, MSc
Director of Behavioral Health, Immigrant & Refugee Health Center,
Boston Medical Center; Clinical Psychologist, Therapeutic Assessment &
Psychological Testing (TAPT) Service, Dept. of Psychiatry, BMC;
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Resham Gellatly, PhD
Director of CBT Training for the BU School of Medicine Psychiatry Residency Program,
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine;
Clinical Psychologist, Dept. of Psychiatry, BMC;
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Fostering the perinatal mental health of birthing migrants warrants attention within healthcare systems. This presentation will describe challenges encountered by birthing migrants in accessing crucial mental health care during the perinatal period in addition to exploring promising facilitators aimed at enhancing perinatal mental health outcomes within this demographic. Central to our presentation will be a discussion of a model of care developed to meet the unique needs of birthing migrants within the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic at Boston Medical Center.

Learning Objectives:

1. List challenges of birthing migrants to access mental health care during the perinatal period.

2. Describe factors aimed at enhancing mental health outcomes with this demographic.

3. Describe the model of care developed within the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic at BMC.