A New Era of Maternal Mental Health for Military Families
A Reflection by Dr. Cara English, DBH, CEO and CAO of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies
Jan. 15, 2025
In a historic advancement for military family support, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 has incorporated the Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act (The MOMS Act). This bipartisan legislation establishes the first federally mandated program dedicated to addressing maternal mental health within the military healthcare system, aiming to provide comprehensive resources for active-duty service members and their spouses during and after pregnancy.
The Government Accountability Office estimates that approximately 100,000 military mothers give birth each year, with one in three experiencing maternal mental health conditions—double the rate observed in the civilian population. This legislation seeks to mitigate these challenges by implementing prevention and treatment programs tailored to the unique needs of military families.
Dr. Cara English, DBH, CEO and CAO of Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) and a national expert in maternal mental health, emphasizes the significance of this development:
“This legislation signifies a major policy shift in addressing maternal mental health within one of our most vulnerable populations: military mothers. The inclusion of the MOMS Act in the NDAA 2025 demonstrates a formal acknowledgement by the federal government of what maternal mental health advocates have long known. Our military moms critically need and deserve perinatal mental health support within the military healthcare system. This new legislation addresses a long-standing gap in women’s health services for active-duty service members and their spouses. Notably, this is the first federally mandated program specifically focused on maternal mental health for military families, which sets a precedent for strategically addressing mental health issues among our nation’s service members in a more dedicated manner.”
Dr. English further highlights the role of integrated care professionals in this initiative:
“Doctors of Behavioral Health (DBHs) and other integrated care experts have long been calling for the application of strong population health science to improve health outcomes for all populations, and specifically for those most vulnerable to poor outcomes due to unaddressed social determinants of health. Military service organizations should be looking to DBHs to develop prevention and treatment programs aimed at reducing the prevalence and impact of maternal mental health conditions in the military population. We need national experts in integrated care to lead the implementation of this legislation.”
The MOMS Act is expected to enhance mission readiness by ensuring that military mothers receive the support necessary to thrive both personally and professionally. Dr. English notes:
“This legislation represents a significant step forward in developing care tailored to the unique stressors of military life, such as frequent relocations, deployments, and separation, which exacerbate mental health challenges during and after pregnancy. A program of this scale could serve as a model for initiatives beyond the military, showcasing the importance of federal leadership in funding and ensuring comprehensive care for all families. Furthermore, this legislation underscores the critical role of integrated care in addressing complex health challenges for deserving populations. Maternal mental health directly affects family well-being, parental presenteeism, infant neurological and social development, and long-term academic and behavioral outcomes for children. The federal government seems to be tuning into data indicating that when military moms cannot access the care they need, operational readiness and cohesion of the military community are threatened. We expect to see enhanced quality of life for military mothers and their family members from this mandate.”
As a leader in educating behavioral health professionals, CGI is uniquely positioned to support the implementation of these types of innovative initiatives. Dr. English states:
“At CGI, our students and faculty understand the holistic impacts of health conditions. Mental health has chronically taken a back seat to the focus on physical health, and ongoing bias, shame, and stigma have prevented us from making needed progress. It’s good to see federal legislation mandating funding and strategy to improve maternal mental health in the military; however, what we need is a broader federal strategy aimed at workforce development for all healthcare workers that ensures adequate training in both mental health and integrated care.”
CGI remains committed to advancing education and practice in this vital area, preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders to meet the evolving needs of diverse populations. Dr. English notes,
“All healthcare workers serving women, military service members, and first responders must receive advanced training to ensure they are prepared to effectively serve these populations. Our graduates deliver the value of proper education in these areas, and are well-prepared to meet the intended objectives of federal legislation representing a proactive and systemic approach to maternal mental health, recognizing the acute and long-term impacts on individuals, families, and communities.”
Resources
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Dec 18, 2024. The First Legislation Addressing Military Mothers’ Mental Health Included in Final National Defense Bill. https://www.mmhla.org/articles/the-first-legislation-addressing-military-mothers-mental-health-included-in-final-national-defense-bill?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80X0n0l_96ONu1gXMJ6l24wHDeO3Ci8z6WSQC9Gm0JS4MshBSQ1wAkQY6T4Tw7T0cruPUqPxBJWLWEhHNCuGvZE5XPYQ&_hsmi=339258913
The Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Sere Act of 2024 (MOMS Act): Overview. https://www.mmhla.org/the-moms-act
Howard LM, Khalifeh H. Perinatal mental health: a review of progress and challenges. World Psychiatry. 2020 Oct;19(3):313-327. doi: 10.1002/wps.20769. PMID: 32931106; PMCID: PMC7491613. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7491613/
Pretorius, K., Sposato, M.F. & Trueblood-Miller, W. Perinatal mental health and active-duty military spouses: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 24, 557 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06727-1
