Virtual Convening: Leveraging Technology and Innovation to Improve Postpartum Mental Health for Mothers and Families

•   Monday, May 4, 2026
•   10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET

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Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common complications of pregnancy and the first year postpartum, affecting approximately one in five birthing individuals.^1,7,8 While screening efforts have expanded in recent years, a substantial proportion of women remain undiagnosed or untreated, and even those with identified symptoms often do not initiate or sustain mental health care after childbirth due to access barriers, time constraints, stigma, and limited follow-up support.^2,4 This gap between screening and sustained engagement highlights the need for care models that extend beyond traditional clinical encounters. Technology-enabled services offer a promising pathway to address these challenges by supporting continuous monitoring, accessible follow-up, and more consistent patient engagement outside of in-person visits. Emerging evidence suggests that telehealth and digital mental health interventions can improve postpartum mental health outcomes and enhance continuity of care when integrated into routine practice.³ Accordingly, this virtual convening is designed to equip clinicians and care teams with evidence-based, technology-enhanced strategies to strengthen communication, promote timely identification and intervention, and support emotional continuity for mothers and families throughout the critical postpartum period.

This virtual convening will support clinicians and care teams in integrating evidence-based, technology-enhanced strategies into postpartum care. Participants will gain practical approaches to strengthen communication, facilitate timely intervention, and ensure emotional continuity for mothers and families during the critical postpartum period.

Session 1 — Healing in Silence: Technology-Supported Approaches to Perinatal Loss

Perinatal loss is a deeply personal experience that leaves lasting emotional impact on parents and families. Technology now plays a meaningful role in enabling private, compassionate communication and ensuring continued support after discharge. This session will explore how providers can use digital bereavement care tools including secure messaging, tele-counseling, and online support communities to maintain connection and guide coping through the earliest moments of grief. Participants will learn how structured digital follow-up and remote access to grief resources can improve care experience, reduce isolation, and strengthen continuity for families experiencing loss.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify digital tools and communication approaches that support families after perinatal loss.
2. Improve continuity of care by incorporating virtual bereavement support strategies.
3. Guide families in accessing online grief resources that are safe and supportive.

Speakers

Session 2 — Can Technology Fill the Compassion Gaps in Mental Health?

Technology and AI are rapidly evolving the landscape of postpartum mental health care. This session explores the current digital and AI-driven solutions that can identify perinatal mental health risk early, help track symptoms, and maintain engagement when clinical contact is limited. Presenters will emphasize the importance of human oversight and empathetic communication, ensuring technology supplements rather than replacing meaningful connection between providers and families.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how digital tools can be used to enhance postpartum mental health screening and follow-up.
2. Evaluate technology solutions that promote continued patient engagement beyond clinical visits.
3. Ensure technology-supported mental health strategies uphold empathy and clinical rapport.

Speakers

Session 3 — Beyond the Screen: Social Media and Digital Well-Being in the Postpartum Period

Today’s postpartum experience is shaped significantly by digital environments. While social media offers connection and community, it can also contribute to comparison, misinformation, and heightened anxiety. This session explores the complex role of online spaces in shaping mental health after childbirth and equips providers with strategies to discuss digital habits during clinical encounters. Presenters will share practical tools to help families identify credible online information, maintain healthy digital boundaries, and use technology as a source of support rather than stress.

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how social media influences stress, expectations, and emotional well-being after childbirth.
2. Incorporate digital wellness discussions into postpartum counseling and check-ins.
3. Direct families to reliable, protective online communities and mental health resources.

Speakers

References

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