Postpartum depression is a common public health problem with serious and lasting consequences for mother and child, especially among low-income women. Maternal mental health is a critical component of perinatal care and maternal safety.
The ROSE Program (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns) is an evidence-based program that has been shown to reduce cases of postpartum depression by half among low-income women in a series of randomized control trials.
The ROSE Program has been specifically cited in the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation regarding the prevention of perinatal depression.
The ROSE Program includes 4 or 8 prenatal sessions and one post-natal booster session. Topics include psychoeducation on postpartum depression, managing the transition to motherhood, managing relationships, self-care, assertiveness and goal-setting, and a review session. The intervention is highly structured, easy to learn, and can be delivered in both Spanish and English. Nurses, health educators, and others with or without mental health expertise can successfully provide ROSE.
