Health and Nutrition

Teens during pregnancy appear to be at increased risk of high blood pressure, anemia, and premature birth, having low birth weight babies, and experiencing postpartum depression. Teen parents can share an increased risk of mental health issues and substance misuse. Common issues include depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition, teen parents, especially teen mothers, are more likely to live in impoverished areas with limited access to mental health resources. These factors can prevent teen mothers from obtaining mental health care and substance abuse treatment. Another barrier to young mothers accessing treatment is a concern about confidentiality. Including pediatricians in providing mental health care could mitigate this problem, as many teens go to their primary care doctor first when they need help. Surpassing Hurdles will initiate a collaborative outreach clinic for pregnant youth and adolescent mothers.