AHRQ Announces Challenge To Improve Rural Postpartum Mental Health

AHRQ has announced a new challenge competition to improve postpartum mental health care for rural American families. One in seven mothers experiences a postpartum mental health condition, defined as the onset of depression or anxiety within one year of giving birth. Rural women and families face barriers to accessing adequate care for postpartum mental health problems, including limited availability of mental healthcare providers, child care and transportation. The new Cross-Sectional Innovation to Improve Rural Postpartum Mental Health Challenge will award $175,000 in cash prizes in two submission categories. Five winners of the Success Story Category will receive $15,000 each, and two winners of the Program Proposal category will receive $50,000 each. The goal of the challenge is to elicit local solutions to improve postpartum mental health, then share those successes with healthcare systems, healthcare professionals, local and state policymakers, Federal partners and the public. Access details about the challenge, the AHRQ press release and information about other AHRQ challenges.