Deaths by suicide during pregnancy and after birth are on the rise, but yet, they’re preventable, experts explain.

In the United States each year, there are approximately 3.6 million live births, and 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. 

“The United States is unique as a developed economy for having a maternal mortality rate this high,” said Briana Mezuk, Ph.D., a professor of epidemiology and the director of the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health at the U-M School of Public Health. 

“The good news is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80% of these maternal deaths are preventable.” 

Approximately one in five of these deaths during pregnancy or after birth, known as the perinatal period, are due to suicide, accidental overdose, or a related substance use disorder. 

Reducing risk for perinatal suicide begins with identifying and treating more common perinatal mental health conditions. 

“Mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, affect many people during pregnancy and in the year after birth,” said Kara Zivin, Ph.D., Marcia A. Valenstein, M.D., the Collegiate Professor of Psychiatry and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the U-M Medical School. 

“Unfortunately, these conditions also increase your risk for suicide.” 

Zivin’s team of researchers have found that suicide risk during pregnancy and after childbirth has grown in recent years. 

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder diagnoses, which include anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth, as well as perinatal posttraumatic stress disorder diagnoses, have also risen among privately insured people in recent years. 

“If you have 30 people who are pregnant or postpartum in the room, six of those will be at risk for depression, and one of them will be at risk for suicide. That’s a huge number,” said Maria Muzik, M.D., MSc., a professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and Gynecology at the U-M Medical School and the medical director U-M’s Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry Services. 

“But we also need to talk about resilience, because you can heal. There is hope, and healing is possible with help.” 

Muzik emphasizes resiliency factors such as a strong social support network, stable housing and financial security, healthy lifestyle, and access to mental health services, among others.

Muzik also explains how connecting and learning from others with similar experiences could help.

“Hearing stories and sharing stories about suicidality and showing hope, healing, and non-suicidal- resolutions, this is very protective.” 

In the video above, several leading experts in the field, along with a patient sharing her own personal experience, discuss the latest information about suicide prevention in pregnant and postpartum people, including the latest research and resources for help. 

Patients and families seeking resources can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Postpartum Support International helpline. In Michigan, MC3 Perinatal also offers direct care to patients, including counseling or care navigation, support with accessing resources, or listening and validation when someone feels distress, depressed, or in crisis, free of charge. 

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