The maternal mortality rate for Black and Brown mothers in New York City, especially in Brooklyn and the Bronx, is alarmingly high—about nine times greater than that of White mothers. And while many people associate maternal deaths with such physical complications as infections, hemorrhaging, embolism, or high blood pressure disorders, the most significant contributor is perinatal mental health issues.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson at Borough Hall on April 3.
To raise public awareness and drive meaningful change, Brooklyn College, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the New York City Health Department, and United for Brownsville, hosted the Inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Summit on April 4. This landmark event featured more than a dozen interdisciplinary health and mental health experts and served as a crucial platform to address one of the most urgent health care challenges facing Brooklyn and the nation today.
The daylong event—spearheaded by Brooklyn College and led by Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education/Art Education Jacqueline Shannon and Clinical Professor Haroula Ntalla—was attended by more than 200 people and highlighted the growing crisis, discussed tangible solutions, and offered resources to support families and health care providers alike.
“The inaugural summit on perinatal mental health exemplifies the strength of partnerships united by a common cause,” said Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson, who also participated in the event. “Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is a leader in tackling maternal health disparities and a vital ally in our mission to serve the community and improve health outcomes.”
Brooklyn College Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education/Art Education Jacqueline Shannon.
“We were proud to host this important event and provide a platform for experts from Brooklyn’s diverse communities to share the latest research, best practices, and real-world experiences in perinatal mental health,” Shannon said. “It also served as a bridge, fostering crucial dialogue between academia and frontline community-based professionals to drive meaningful change through innovation and collaboration.”
As one of the speakers, Ntalla emphasized the deeply troubling and tragic reality that each year, 700 women in the United States lose their lives due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. As alarmingly, around one in seven women experience postpartum depression—a condition that can have devastating consequences, not only for the mother’s health but also for her entire family, leaving enduring emotional and psychological scars that too often become intergenerational.
President Michelle J. Anderson and Summit keynote speaker Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean
The event was ignited by thought-provoking discussions, spearheaded by a distinguished panel of experts. Among them was keynote speaker, Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN, and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Also a faculty member at New York Medical College’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-chair of the New York City Maternal Mortality Review Board, and appointed member of the New York State Maternal Mortality Review Board, Dr. Saint-Jean is known for her ground-breaking work as an advocate for equitable health care for underrepresented minority women that champions a holistic, patient-centered approach. During her lecture, she highlighted that perinatal mental health issues are now the leading cause of maternal deaths. She also emphasized the severe lack of support systems, particularly for women of color in Brooklyn, urging immediate action and a reevaluation of current approaches.
(Left to right) Two students who are enrolled in Brooklyn College’s pilot Perinatal Mental Health program courses, Keema Wiley and Georgina Gooden, participated in the Summit.
A day earlier on April 3 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, President Anderson joined Reynoso to unveil New York State’s first Perinatal Mental Health Advanced Certificate Program—an initiative overseen by Shannon and Ntalla —to address the growing need for specialized training in perinatal mental health.
In collaboration with Reynoso’s Maternal Health Task Force and experts from the New York City Department of Health, a multidisciplinary team from Brooklyn College developed innovative coursework on perinatal mental health to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to this important area of education.
The Brooklyn College team included:
- Associate Professor Rona Miles and Professor Laura Rabin, Psychology
- Assistant Professor Garumma Feyissa, Health and Nutrition Sciences
- Associate Professor Shannon and clinical professors Haroula Ntalla, Nina Newman, and Ira Glovinsky (’68, ’72 M.S.Ed.) Early Childhood Education/Art Education.
This spring, two pilot courses are underway, with the first full cohort set to launch in fall 2025.
