The Unique Mental Health Challenges Facing Military Families During the Perinatal Period
- Outreach APW
- 18 hours ago
- 6 min read
July 22, 2026
If you were to make a Venn diagram showing common predictors of perinatal mental health disorders and the common experiences of military families, it would quickly become evident why this population is at a higher risk for perinatal mental health issues. Many lifestyle factors that are distinct to the lived experience of service members can exacerbate mental health challenges. There is limited research specifically focused on perinatal mental health in the military, but the research we do have suggests the United States needs to do more to support our military families.
Anchor Perinatal Wellness accepts TRICARE, the Department of Defense’s health care program for eligible service members, retirees, and their families.
The Present Situation for Military Families
Active duty service women (ADSW) and spouses/partners of active duty tend to experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) at a higher rate when compared to the general population.¹ A 2026 study that analyzed diagnosis codes to evaluate the prevalence of mental health conditions in ADSW found that approximately one in three received a mental health diagnosis during the period spanning one year before pregnancy through one year postpartum.² Although this finding only represents diagnostic criteria for one group over a specific timeframe, and thus cannot be directly compared with the commonly cited statistic that maternal mental health conditions affect approximately one in five U.S. mothers, it still underscores the substantial mental health needs of parents in the military.³
Issues with Recommended Screenings
Additionally, it's important to take into account that those numbers only capture the people who are seeking help. Low screening rates for PMADs also mean that many service members may not be getting the help they need. A recent Government Accountability Office [GAO] report that looked at perinatal mental health screenings among TRICARE beneficiaries found that only 52% of U.S. service women who received care at a military hospital or clinic received all three perinatal mental health screenings as recommended by The Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Health Agency (DHA).⁴ While most beneficiaries received one screening–either at their initial prenatal visit, 28-week visit, or first postpartum visit–almost half did not receive the DHA’s recommended care, which leaves a lot of room for missed diagnosis.
Low screening rates for PMADs mean that many service members may not be getting the help they need.
Access Issues in Military Treatment Facilities
There are also issues of access associated with military treatment facilities (MTFs) in the U.S. and abroad.⁵ This is exemplified by a 2023 staffing shortage at a MTF in Okinawa, Japan where pregnant military spouses and partners were told they could not give birth at the facility; they’d either need to give birth at a Japanese hospital or return to the U.S. to have their baby.⁵ Potential higher rates of PMADs, along with screening and access issues, highlight the need to better serve this population.
Factors that Intensify Perinatal Mental Health Issues in Military Families
Frequent Moves and Social Isolation
The landscape of military life creates a potential "perfect storm" for the development of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). First, frequent moves caused by change of duty stations mean military families are often relocated to areas away from family and friends, creating a need to rebuild social support networks from scratch. Lack of social support is an oft cited risk factor for PMADs, and one study about partners of AD service people "found that 1/5 pregnant persons did not have a support person beyond their partner."⁵ The commonality of moves in the military also means the challenges associated with relocation are widespread. A study from 2021 found that "81% of AD [active duty] military spouses surveyed had experienced a change of duty station,”⁵ meaning this issue is pervasive across the military landscape.
Financial Stressors
In addition to the isolation that can accompany support network challenges, frequent moves also have financial implications that can increase stress during the perinatal period. When military families relocate, partners may need to find a new job and reestablish childcare. This all creates instability, which during pregnancy and postpartum, can increase chances of mood and anxiety disorders.
The landscape of military life creates a potential "perfect storm" for the development of PMADs.
Cultural Stressors
When service members are deployed overseas to active military zones and pregnant partners stay state-side, fear for that partner's safety can compound stress. And while a partner's return from deployment can alleviate safety concerns, PTSD and other deployment-related mental health concerns may affect service members returning to family life, as exposure to various types of trauma is common among service members in military zones.⁶ Finally, AD spouses and partners also cite a "career first" mentality as a potential barrier to care, where duty to the military is the main priority, creating a culture that may discourage a struggling partner from speaking up about PMAD symptoms.
How We Can Better Support Military Families
There is so much work to be done, but systemic and legislative changes can occur to better support our military families in the perinatal landscape:
Easily accessible mental health resources as well as pregnancy and lactation resources
Formal orientation on how to access those resources
Introductions to support groups and childcare services as part of perinatal care¹
More training among healthcare professionals to promote the use of those resources
Consistent mental health screenings for both military personnel and their partners
A push for the full implementation of Maintaining Our Obligation to Moms Who Serve Act of 2024 (MOMS Act)
Legislation Supporting Military Moms
The Maintaining Our Obligation to Moms Who Serve Act of 2024 (MOMS Act), which was signed into law in December of 2024 by President Biden, requires the Department of Defense to create "a program in the military health care system that will provide clinical and non-medical resources to prevent and treat maternal mental health conditions," according to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance⁷ (MMHLA). In February of 2026, the Department of Defense submitted a mandatory report to the Committee on Armed Services in Congress providing an update on the program; however, implementation details and timelines have been limited, so MMHLA continues to advocate for a full and comprehensive enactment.
Resources for Military Families
The good news is that some resources are currently available to aid military families dealing with PMADs. Postpartum Support International offers a perinatal mental health support group for military spouses, active-duty personnel, and veteran moms who are pregnant to four years postpartum. Sessions are online, free, and facilitated by trained active-duty personnel and military spouses.
The US military also provides the New Parent Support Program, which is focused on educating new parents and providing support, including through at-home visits. The program is free and voluntary, with the goal of helping new parents to thrive. However, the program is primarily a parenting and family-support resource; it should not be presented as a substitute for specialized PMAD evaluation or treatment.
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance's website has a plethora of information regarding perinatal mental health and the military, including this extremely informative PDF and this webinar on military families and maternal mental health.
Final Thoughts
Although military families are frequently celebrated for their service and sacrifice in U.S. culture, significant gaps remain between public recognition and the practical support available during pregnancy and postpartum. Long-term trends show a small but steady rise in women's participation in the military⁸, making the need for strong perinatal healthcare even more important. Prioritizing parents' mental health has ripple effects across families, communities, and ultimately, the country.
References
¹ Catherine Biegel, Hailee Poulin, Sophia Silvia, Geoffrey McCullen, A Scoping Review of Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression among Military Personnel and Spouses, Military Medicine, 2026;, usag005, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usag005
²Manzo, L. L., Hall, C., Harpaz-Rotem, I., Phillips, A. K., Womack, J. A., & Combellick, J. (2026). Perinatal mental health conditions among U.S. active component service women, 2016-2022. MSMR, 32(12), 36–43. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12965757/
³Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. (2026, April). Maternal mental health [Fact sheet]. https://policycentermmh.org/maternal-mental-health-fact-sheet/
⁴U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2025, April). Defense health care: DOD should monitor mental health screenings for prenatal and postpartum TRICARE beneficiaries (GAO-25-107163). https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107163.pdf
⁵Pretorius, K., Sposato, M. F., & Trueblood-Miller, W. (2024). Perinatal mental health and active-duty military spouses: a scoping review. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 24(1), 557. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06727-1
⁶Buccellato, K. H., Straud, C. L., Blount, T. H., Evans, W. R., Hein, J. M., Santos, E., Hale, W. J., Foa, E. B., Brown, L. A., McLean, C. P., Schobitz, R. P., DeBeer, B. B., Mignogna, J., Fina, B. A., Hall-Clark, B., Schrader, C. C., Yarvis, J. S., Jacoby, V. M., Lara-Ruiz, J., . . . Peterson, A. L. (2025). Examination of the top three traumatic experiences among United States service members and veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Behavioral Sciences, 15(9), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091211
⁷Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. (2026). Legislation: The MOMS Act. https://www.mmhla.org/the-moms-act
⁸U.S. Department of Defense. (2023, November 6). Defense Department report shows decline in armed forces population while percentage of military women rises slightly. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/article/3580676/defense-department-report-shows-decline-in-armed-forces-population-while-percen/
Written by Bridget Bell
Bridget Bell is Anchor Perinatal Wellness’s Digital Marketing Associate. She is also a survivor of postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD as well as a maternal mental health advocate. Her debut book of poetry All That We Ask of You Is to Always Be Happy (CavanKerry Press) is about perinatal mental health.
Reviewed by Carolina Robbins, Director of Operations for Anchor Perinatal Wellness, LCSW, PMH-C.
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