Thanks to You, Moms Thrive
“It’s so hard in a rural community to find training that makes financial sense. This is truly a blessing and will have a ripple effect in my community.”
— Mental Health Professional, South Dakota
The 2025 Maternal Mental Health Symposium drew 2,089 participants from all 50 states, D.C., and 27 countries. Mothers, clinicians, students, and advocates came together to advance care and share hope. Thanks to support from the Keller Family Fund, El Camino Health made this global event free and virtual, so that clinicians around the country and the world could access this valuable event.
Why It Matters
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Facilitated by El Camino Health’s Dr. Nirmaljit Dhami, the first panel demystified advanced treatments for severe depression and postpartum psychosis. Experts Dr. Camille Hoffman, Dr. Lucy Lan, and Dr. Katherine Taylor highlighted the evidence and potential for brain stimulation treatment to help patients and early research on psychedelic-assisted therapies—while tackling stigma, safety, and access so mothers can get effective care faster.
Other Highlights
- California Surgeon General Dr. Diana E. Ramos spoke about how early experiences—both adverse and positive—shape the lifelong health of mothers and infants.
- Dr. Veerle Bergink, a world leader in postpartum psychosis research, shared advances in caring for women with severe mental illness.
- Dr. Margaret Howard, a national pioneer in mother–baby psychiatric care, explained how screening for postpartum depression can save lives.
- Dr. Dhami shared the Teen Video Initiative, mentoring high school students to create short films raising awareness and empathy.
- Parents and families spoke candidly about recovery, stigma, and the healing power of community support.
In Their Words--Participant Feedback
“Before I found this program, I felt alone and overwhelmed. Now, I have support, guidance, and hope for my baby’s future.”
— Mother and Panelist, 2025 Maternal Mental Health Symposium
“Thank you so much for sharing what you went through after pregnancy, and for being open about the steps you took to get support and clinical help. It takes a lot of courage to speak openly about something so personal, and I really admire your strength and honesty. Your story is not only powerful but also incredibly important, because it helps others know they’re not alone, and that seeking help is a brave and necessary step.”
– Participant, 2025 Maternal Mental Health Symposium
Your Impact
Your generosity fuels this progress—expanding perinatal mental health programs, training providers in new therapies, and reaching rural and underserved communities. Together, we’re helping mothers heal and babies thrive.
Give to Support Mothers and Families
References:
- Fawcett, E. J., Fairbrother, N., Cox, M. L., White, I. R., & Fawcett, J. M. (2019). The Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Multivariate Bayesian Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 80(4). https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.18r12527
- Gavin, N. I., Gaynes, B. N., Lohr, K. N., Meltzer-Brody, S., Gartlehner, G., & Swinson, T. (2005). Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Incidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106(5 Part 1), 1071–1083. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000183597.31630.db
- Trost SL, Busacker A, Leonard M, et al. (2024). Pregnancy-Related Deaths: Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 38 U.S. States, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/php/data-research/index.html
Published November 2025
