The Daily News – May 26, 2025

Here’s a question. Could postpartum depression treatment be hiding in plain sight? Well, a new study says nurses, midwives, and doulas, not just psychiatrists and psychologists, can help new moms struggling with depression and anxiety. Today we’re going to be discussing an innovative way to make mental health care more accessible for pregnant and postpartum women. One in five women experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth, which of course can have lasting effects on both the mother and child. A clinical trial published in Nature Medicine tested a simple idea, train frontline healthcare workers in short-term therapy and see if they can deliver the same results as mental health specialists. So what was the answer? Absolutely they can. Over 1200 women received eight sessions of behavioral activation therapy, which is a method that helps shift people from negative thoughts into positive actions. Some were treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist and others by trained nurses, midwives, and doulas. After three months, both groups saw the same improvement. And here’s the kicker. Virtual therapy worked just as well as in-person sessions, so that means new moms could get effective treatment from home, cutting out barriers like childcare, scheduling, and travel. One study participant says the therapy gave her real tools to manage postpartum depression and a skeptical nurse who took part in the study called The Results Life-Changing. We would love to have you share your experiences in the comments below and what may have helped you on your journey. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more updates. And as always, thank you so much for joining us on The Daily News, and we’ll see you next time.