MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – With maternal mental health conditions the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, Wisconsin’s largest birthing center is looking to fix that.
UnityPoint Health – Meriter implemented a universal Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) screening into its discharge protocol back in Dec. 2025.
“Mental health struggles are more common than hemorrhage or cardiac complications during pregnancy, yet they remain one of the least discussed topics in the room,” said Zer Moua, Family Care Center, Clinical Practice Leader at Meriter. “At Meriter, we believe every patient deserves to feel safe and supported. By normalizing these conversations and providing concrete resources, we are working to eliminate the stigma that prevents parents from getting the care they need.”
Every patient, regardless of history, is screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) before leaving the hospital.
Every patient receives education on the signs and symptoms of PMAD, empowering them to recognize when to seek help.
Any patient that scores 10 or higher on the EPDS is immediately connected with hospital social workers to help connect to mental health resources.
The entire nursing staff also underwent intensive in-person training led by Birdie Gunyon Meyer, RN, MA, PMH-C, in 2025.
The training gave the staff the ability to recognize the subtle nuances of PMAD, which often go undetected due to the stigma and shame surrounding maternal mental health.
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