How state policies affect pregnant and postpartum mental health
Impact of state health policy on women's mental health
This project looks at whether state laws and policies are linked to depression, anxiety, and suicide-related risks for people during pregnancy and the year after birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285257 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research compares mental health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum people across U.S. states with different reproductive and social policies. The team will connect state policy timelines to health records, birth and death statistics, and other population data to measure rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and self-harm or suicidal behavior. They will examine whether impacts differ for people who are low-income, live in rural counties, or belong to racial and ethnic minority groups. The work uses existing administrative and clinical data rather than testing a treatment, so it does not require individual enrollment in an interventional trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant or within the first year after giving birth, especially those who are low-income, live in rural areas, or are from racial/ethnic minority groups, are the primary focus.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or postpartum, or whose mental health issues are unrelated to state-level policies, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform state policy changes aimed at reducing perinatal depression, anxiety, and suicide among birthing people.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked state policies to suicide rates and some maternal outcomes, but using these approaches specifically for perinatal mood and suicidality is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dalton, Vanessa K. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Dalton, Vanessa K.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.