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In this episode of the Incubator Podcast, Ben and Daphna discuss maternal mental health with Maureen Fiora, CEO of Mammha, a femtech startup aimed at revolutionizing maternal mental health care. Mammha focuses on addressing postpartum and perinatal depression by improving identification, diagnosis, referral, and treatment processes. Maureen shared her personal journey, highlighting the significant gaps in current healthcare systems regarding maternal mental health, emphasizing that less than 20% of physicians screen for these conditions. She detailed how Mammha streamlines screening with technology and ensures that women who screen positive receive comprehensive follow-up care, overcoming the usual fragmentation in care pathways.

The conversation also touched on the importance of screening in NICUs due to the heightened vulnerability of parents there, with Mammha capturing significant data on both mothers and fathers experiencing mental health issues. Maureen explained how Mammha operates, starting with provider-initiated screening using QR codes and validated tools, to engaging care coordinators for immediate follow-up. The company's success stories include partnerships and awards for their innovative approach to closing care gaps, especially among underserved populations.

Mammha's model has significantly increased engagement and follow-up care for screened parents, showcasing a promising pathway to better maternal mental health outcomes. Maureen's background in policy and advocacy, combined with personal experience, positions her uniquely to lead this initiative, aiming to make a tangible difference in the lives of parents navigating the challenges of mental health during the perinatal period.

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!