Rachel Eakley, New York University - Treating Mental Health During Pregnancy

Mental health is especially important during pregnancy.

Rachel Eakley, clinical assistant professor at the Rory Meyers College of Nursing at New York University, determines why more support is needed.

Faculty Bio:

Rachel Eakley, PhD, PMHNP-BC, RN, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her research has been focused on perinatal mental health and improving access to evidence-based interventions for depression and anxiety, specifically understanding clinical reluctance among outpatient psychiatric providers to treat mental health concerns during pregnancy and improving the preparedness of the mental health workforce to meet the needs of pregnant people. She maintains a passion for improving pre-licensure and continuing education with an emphasis on the well-being of students, professionals, and patients alike - highlighting the importance of applying a trauma-informed lens across roles. In addition to her faculty role at NYU Meyers, she maintains a private practice, providing a combination of psychotherapy and psychopharmacological treatment for adults and adolescents. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU Meyers, Prof. Eakley worked as an inpatient psychiatric nurse, study clinician at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and adjunct clinical instructor and lecturer at NYU Meyers.Before being drawn to the applied clinical work of nursing, Eakley studied Psychology and English at Boston University, followed by an MA in psychology at NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Eakley earned her BS, MSN, and PhD at NYU Meyers. She has received postgraduate training in couple, family, and individual therapy modalities.

Transcript:

Untreated mental health conditions during pregnancy have been associated with serious and potentially life threatening consequences - including preeclampsia, preterm birth, postpartum depression, and even suicide deaths. Treatment guidelines from leading professional organizations discourage the blanket discontinuation of medication during pregnancy and promote careful consideration of the risks of treatment vs nontreatment. Despite this, patients are less likely to be screened or treated for mental health concerns during pregnancy. Pregnant people may be reluctant to seek mental healthcare - including medications - for many reasons - for example, fear of stigma or judgment by family or medical staff, concerns about potential adverse effects of medications during pregnancy. However, mental health provider