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Diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations for anti-racist, equity-focused NICU family mental health

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Families with infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high rates of perinatal mental health conditions, which are disproportionately experienced by families i) of minoritized racial identities; ii) with a primary language other than English (PLOE); and iii) of low socioeconomic status. Disparities in screening, diagnosis, and treatment for mental health conditions are complex. Multiple individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural factors may negatively impact marginalized individuals. Multifaceted recommendations to address these challenges are included in this article. This also serves as a call to action for the creation, standardization, and adoption of individual, institutional, and national interventions that can provide equitable mental health support for NICU families to mitigate disparities in mental health outcomes.

Source: Journal of Perinatology

DOI: 10.1038/s41372-025-02493-w

Authors: Emily Echevarria, Tonia Branche, Emily R. Miller, Kimberly Novod, Valencia Walker