A new behavioral health program for pregnant women and new mothers is now available in Spokane.
Emotional and mental health struggles are common in the months before, and after giving birth, with about one in eight women suffering from Post-Partum Depression according to the CDC.
A new program at Providence’s Holy Family Hospital, called Perinatal RISE, or P-rise, is designed to address those conditions. Program manager Kristin Reiter says she knows there’s a need in the community for this service.
“It's a big underserved population, especially in our area. There's some bigger cities that have programs specifically for mental health of perinatal women, but we have not really had anything up until now."
Reiter says the program can help with depression and anxiety, as well as other mental health challenges that can become complicated after having a baby.
The program accepts all health insurance plans, including Medicaid, and has social workers on site to help find care for older children, arrange transportation, and address other issues that could make it difficult to keep appointments.
She says the program also encourages mothers to bring their babies to their appointments.
“We have pretty much anything a mom would need in the program if they forgot to bring anything,” she said.
The program is three to four days a week from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for six to eight weeks. Most services are group based, including therapy and parent education.
There is currently no waiting list and anyone pregnant over the age of 18, or with an infant less than a year-old, is eligible.
