What is the Georgia Fund?

Launched in 2022 as a community-funded program, the Georgia Fund for Perinatal Mental Health is now a PSI Georgia program, with financial support from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

We provide fully funded therapy sessions with perinatal therapists to eligible applicants in Georgia.

What is perinatal mental health?

Perinatal refers to the period of time beginning with a pregnancy until 2 years postpartum, including experiences of pregnancy or infant loss, termination, and infertility.

Perinatal mental health disorders are a group of mental health diagnoses, such as postpartum depression and anxiety, that can occur in moms and parents during this time.

What is a certified perinatal mental health (PMH-C) therapist?

A licensed therapist or counselor who has advanced training in perinatal mental health, has worked with the perinatal population for at least two years, and has taken a comprehensive exam to earn a professional certificate from Postpartum Support International.

Who is this fund for?

The Georgia Fund for Perinatal Mental Health provides fully funded therapy sessions for perinatal moms and parents who reside in Georgia. This includes those who:

• Are currently pregnant

• Are up to 1 year postpartum

• Have experienced a perinatal loss in the past 1 year, including miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and termination

Funding is available only to applicants who are uninsured or who are enrolled in a Medicaid health plan. Recipients may receive one round of funding only; we do not accept re-applications.

I’m a perinatal mom or parent in Georgia. How can I apply to receive funds?

We open our intake on the 1st day of every month at 12pm ET, and will close once our application is full for the month. Bookmark our application page to sign up!

How does therapy work?

Therapy is a form of mental-health care that involves working one-on-one with a qualified licensed provider.

Therapy is scientifically proven to help clients develop effective coping and problem-solving skills, improve health of relationships, make behavioral changes, resolve past trauma, and improve overall quality of life.

Though therapy is especially helpful in treating perinatal mental health issues, you do not have to have a diagnosis to benefit from therapy.

Everyone comes to therapy for different reasons and with different goals, so the therapy process looks different for everyone. In general, therapy sessions are typically 45-60 minutes once per week, and will include: discussion of current stressors, your personal history, and your current goals. Your therapist will collaborate with you to develop a treatment plan to meet these goals.

Read more about how therapy works here.

Why do moms and parents in Georgia need help?

Nationwide, perinatal mental health disorders like postpartum depression and anxiety are the #1 complication of childbirth. This is widely understood to be an underestimation of how many are affected.

In Georgia, which holds one of the worst records for maternal mortality in the US, maternal suicide is the leading cause of death.

Our state also has one of the highest rates of mental illness and one of the worst records for access to mental health care in the US. Out of Georgia’s 159 counties, 152 currently have a mental health care shortage.

One in 5 women of childbearing age in Georgia have no health insurance.

This means that most perinatal moms and parents struggle in silence, without adequate support, unable to access qualified care.

The financial and societal costs of untreated perinatal mental health issues are disastrous.

I’m a therapist and want to help! How do I get involved?

If you are licensed to practice in Georgia and you have a current PMH-C, please sign up to work with our Georgia Fund recipients!

I want to support the Georgia Fund. How can I help?

The best way to support our Fund is to spread the word about our program in your network and to DONATE!

With your donation to PSI Georgia, you contribute directly to providing therapy funds to a perinatal mom or parent in need.