Effects of telehealth on access to mental health care for new mothers

Impacts of Telehealth Policies on Inequities in Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Access and Outcomes

NIH-funded research Rand Corporation · NIH-11024864

This study is looking at how using telehealth can make it easier for pregnant and new moms, especially those from underserved communities, to get the mental health support they need, and it aims to find ways to improve their access to care.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRand Corporation NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Santa Monica, United States)
Project IDNIH-11024864 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how telehealth policies can improve access to behavioral health care for pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities. It aims to understand the barriers these individuals face in receiving care and how telehealth can help overcome them. The study will analyze data on telehealth usage and its effectiveness in providing necessary mental health support during the perinatal period. By focusing on historically underserved populations, the research seeks to identify strategies to enhance care delivery and outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant or postpartum individuals, especially those from marginalized communities or facing barriers to accessing traditional in-person care.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those who do not experience behavioral health conditions during this period may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to mental health care for new mothers, potentially reducing maternal deaths related to behavioral health conditions.

How similar studies have performed: While telehealth has shown promise in other areas of healthcare, this specific application in perinatal behavioral health is relatively novel and under-explored.

Where this research is happening

Santa Monica, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Affective DisordersAnxiety Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.