Join us for a talk by Mellissa Withers exploring the critical intersection of geography and maternal mental health. Titled “Geographies of Maternal Mental Health: Screening for Perinatal Depression in the Global South,” this presentation will examine how location and access to care shape the experience and treatment of perinatal depression (PD).

Perinatal depression occurring during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth is a significant yet often underrecognized public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Withers will discuss the far-reaching impacts of PD on both mothers and infants, including challenges in maternal well-being, early bonding, and child development.

The talk will also highlight the lack of standardized screening and the broader structural barriers that limit access to maternal health care. By addressing these geographic and systemic inequities, this presentation underscores the urgent need for improved screening practices and expanded care to better support mothers and families worldwide.

Withers is a professor of clinical population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California.