A Community Engagement Studio to Inform the Development of Doula Care That Is Inclusive of Perinatal Mental Healthcare

Although perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common complication of pregnancy, up to 80% of cases go undiagnosed and/or untreated. Community-based doulas provide accessible support before, during, and after birth and can play an important role in alleviating the maternal mental health crisis. However, there is little information on the perception of the role of doulas in improving perinatal mental health. This paper describes insights from a community engagement studio aimed at understanding unique perceptions of doulas on involvement to improve access to perinatal mental health support in New Mexico. Ten doula experts living in the Albuquerque-metro area took part in the studio. They emphasized that mental healthcare is important across the perinatal continuum, and a holistic framework to guide care is imperative. Experts also stressed that normalizing and changing the culture surrounding maternal mental health from fear-based to supportive is a critical step in advancing maternal mental health. Further insights included the importance of and need for doulas to receive additional training in the area of PMADs, developing formal care plans with clients, creating space for doula self-care, and establishing a listening space for co-learning between doulas and researchers as the program evolves. The insights gained through engagement with these expert doulas highlight the importance of voices and experiences of frontline community experts to advance the knowledge of health outcomes associated with doula support in this area.