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From West Virginia Watch,

“A new pilot program hopes to expand mental health support for hundreds of pregnant women with substance use disorder in West Virginia.

Mental health challenges are a major issue facing women served by the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership’s Drug Free Moms and Babies Program, according to Janine Breyel, the organization’s deputy director.

West Virginia faces critical shortages of both maternity care and mental health care. The state leads the nation in the rate of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

WVPP announced on Wednesday that it received a $110,000 grant to examine the use of the Moodr Digital Healthcare Solution, a product from a Morgantown-based tech startup designed to assist health care providers in proactively addressing, treating and evaluating mental health challenges. 

“We are optimistic that this tool will help expand the reach and effectiveness of our program resulting in improved health outcomes for mothers and babies affected by substance use,” Breyel said.

The platform will allow for better follow-up and monitoring of patients, she added…”

Read the full article here.

WVCTSI Project ECHO, in collaboration with the WV AAP, is launching a pilot ECHO Project to eliminate hepatitis C in pregnant persons and infants. These one-hour sessions will launch in February 2025. They will include didactic and de-identified case presentations. The sessions will be recorded, and one general hour of CME credit will be offered.

Click here to register

Press Release from West Virginia Department of Human Services:

“CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is reminding women that treatment for substance use disorder is available to support healthy pregnancies and reduce the risk of preterm births during Prematurity Awareness Month. Preterm birth, defined as the birth of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy, affects approximately 12.98% of births in West Virginia. The final weeks of pregnancy are crucial for fetal development, and premature birth can increase the likelihood of health complications for both mothers and babies.

“Substance use during pregnancy is a significant risk factor for preterm birth, but the good news is that treatment is available,” said Christina Mullins, DoHS Deputy Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. “Through programs like Drug Free Moms and Babies and residential treatment services, we can help expectant mothers achieve healthier pregnancies, reducing risks associated with substance use.”

In 2022, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) impacted 6.7% of births in the state, and 8.8% of pregnancies were impacted by intrauterine substance exposure (IUSE). While NAS rates have decreased since 2017, IUSE rates have continued to rise, consistent with national data and is potentially reflective of increasing access to treatment medications. Pregnant women struggling with substance use can take steps to reduce their risk of preterm birth and improve their overall health through access to medical care and behavioral health treatment.

The Drug Free Moms and Babies (DFMB) program, funded by DoHS and administered by the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership, is a statewide initiative that integrates medical and behavioral health care with comprehensive recovery support services. The program has proven successful, with 74.9% of participants testing positive for substance use at baseline and 64.2% testing negative at delivery.

Additionally, West Virginia offers residential treatment programs across the state that specialize in the care of pregnant women, mothers, and their children, providing a safe environment for recovery. These programs are available in Cabell, Fayette, Kanawha, and Wood counties, and accept women from across the state.

Home visitation programs help pregnant women and parents of young children improve the health and well-being for themselves and their families. They are a valuable resource available at no-cost to families from pregnancy through age five. These programs include evidence-based models, such as Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families America, and the statewide program Right From The Start (RFTS), all providing critical support to new and expecting mothers. 

Women in need of treatment can call HELP4WV at 1-844-HELP4-WV for immediate assistance locating a program near them. 

For more information on behavioral health resources, visit dhhr.wv.gov/BBH/about/Adult%20Services/Pages/Comprehensive-Behavioral-Health-Centers.aspx.  

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Please join us for this free presentation

November 14th at 12:00 pm

Dr. Boothe will discuss the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis, as well as how to identify patients who are at risk. A review of current treatment recommendations and care concerns will be included in the presentation.

Emily Boothe, DO is board certified in Psychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine. She graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013 and completed her residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in 2017. She has enjoyed working with the perinatal population since 2015. Following training she has provided a variety of psychiatric services in southern West Virginia, including inpatient and outpatient services with perinatal focus, as well as practicing in nursing home settings. She also recently began serving as co-chair for the Maternal Mental Health Advisory Council. Understanding the need for increased awareness and available services for the perinatal population in the state, she strives to advocate and educate for maternal and perinatal mental health.

Click here to register.

Click to the third slide to watch the recording of the webinar

From HRSA:

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support, resources and referrals to any pregnant and postpartum mothers facing mental health challenges and their loved ones. The service is available via phone and text in English or Spanish.

Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) to connect with counselors at the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

Pregnancy and a new baby can bring a range of emotions. In fact, many women feel overwhelmed, sad, or anxious at different times during their pregnancy and even after the baby is born. For many women, these feelings go away on their own. But for some women, these emotions are more serious and may stay for months.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline’s counselors provide real-time emotional support, encouragement, information, and referrals. Pregnant and postpartum women can get the help and resources they need when they need it.

Are you a new parent and feeling sad, worried, overwhelmed, or concerned that you aren’t good enough? You aren’t alone. You aren’t to blame. With help, you can feel better. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) to connect with counselors at the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Learn more about the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) launched a brand new Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS) – Now: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

This new hotline is confidential and toll-free and is designed for expecting and new moms experiencing mental health challenges.

The hotline is staffed with counselors available to provide mental health support.

Moms can call or text the hotline to connect with a counselor at no charge.

A range of services are available in English and Spanish, including brief interventions from trained counselors who are culturally and trauma-informed, as well as referrals to both community-based and telehealth providers, as needed.

(TTY Users can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-943-5746 now: 1-833-852-6262.)

Find out more: https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline

pregnant womanBy Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter
See the Original Article

In a recent study examining the safety of addiction treatment medications, West Virginia University faculty found that Suboxone may be safer for pregnant women and their babies than methadone or Subutex.

Faculty members Laura Lander and Patrick Marshalek examined the medical records of 26 pregnant women who were prescribed Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, to treat their opioid use disorder.

While some medications used to treat opioid use disorder can be misused, Lander and Mashalek said Suboxone is different.

“The naloxone discourages misuse as it is activated if an individual attempts to inject the medication,” said Laura Lander, West Virginia University Social Work Section chief and associate professor in the WVU School of Medicine.

The activation, she said, isn’t pleasant.

“Misuse of this medication could make you start to feel sick, or even go into withdrawal,” explained Patrick Marshalek, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor in WVU’s School of Medicine and the medical director of WVU’s Chestnut Ridge Center.

The 26 women in the study were participating in the Chestnut Ridge Center’s Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment program.

The researchers also reviewed the medical records of the women’s newborn babies, including the newborns’ gestational age; weight, length and head circumference; Apgar score; duration of hospital stay; diagnosis of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome; and prescribed pharmacological treatment for withdrawal.

Their study, published in the American Journal on Addictions, found that babies exposed to Suboxone in utero fared as well as or better than babies exposed to more conventional addiction treatments, such as treatment with methadone or Subutex.

“It used to be, if you were pregnant, you would be prescribed methadone,” said Lander, who is also an addiction therapist at Chestnut Ridge Center.

A release said clinicians didn’t put Subutex into common use for treating pregnant, opioid-dependent women until a 2010 study by Hendree Jones, a co-researcher on the current project, indicated that babies whose mothers took Subutex while pregnant had a lower incidence of withdrawal. If they did have withdrawal, it tended to be milder and required a shorter hospital stay.

Lander and Marshalek hope their findings will make clinicians feel more comfortable prescribing Suboxone to their pregnant patients in treatment.

They hope to soon study how Suboxone and Subutex affect babies over the long term, even into childhood.

In the meantime, Lander and Marshalek are training health care practitioners across West Virginia to pharmacologically treat opioid dependence. These patients include opioid-dependent pregnant women, whom Lander called “the most stigmatized folks,” even by their own peers with substance use disorders.

Lander and Marshalek’s research indicates that Suboxone may be a safe option for helping these stigmatized women who, as Marshalek said, already “face additional barriers to care.”

Email: [email protected]