Florida earns C- for maternal mental health care
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Many people struggling with maternal mental health are left untreated, experts say as a new report grades states on the quality of the care they provide.
Why it matters: About one in five U.S. moms experience maternity-related mental health conditions like postpartum depression, and most don't get the treatment they need.
- Florida earned a C- overall on maternal mental health care in 2026, according to the report from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
By the numbers: The Policy Center, in collaboration with George Washington University, didn't give out any A's in its fourth annual report card release. The U.S. earned a C overall.
Zoom in: Florida's rating of C- is unchanged from last year. It gained points for having a perinatal psychiatry consultation program and a good rate of providers billing for postpartum mental health screenings.
- Those gains were offset by the closure of an intensive outpatient clinic, per the report.
- The Sunshine State scored particularly poorly for screening and detection, failing all four metrics under that category.
Stunning stat: The U.S. earned an F on a new Policy Center measure that scored states on parental support — like paid leave and affordable, accessible child care — on a 5-star scale.
- Florida earned just half a star, for childcare availability. It was knocked for its lack of affordable child care and public paid parental leave, among other concerns.
The big picture: Untreated maternal mental health disorders are estimated to cost the U.S. $14.2 billion annually, according to the Policy Center.
The bottom line: "While we applaud the progress states are making, the U.S. is providing mediocre maternal mental health care at best," said Joy Burkhard, CEO of the Policy Center, which put together a road map to help states close gaps in maternal mental health.
💭 Kathryn's thought bubble: If you want a more personal look at the mental health challenges facing new parents, I highly recommend this memoir by my friend Ayana Lage, a writer based here in Tampa Bay.