Addressing Indiana’s Mental Health Workforce Challenges
Indiana ranks 44th in the United States for mental health workforce availability, with a staggering ratio of 530 residents per mental health professional (Access to Care Data 2024 | Mental Health America). This shortfall is especially concerning in maternal mental health, where complications are both common and highly treatable.
Between 15% and 20% of pregnant and postpartum women experience diagnosable mental health conditions, yet too few providers are trained to address these perinatal mood disorders. Women from historically marginalized groups often face additional barriers to accessing effective mental health care, leading to inequities in treatment and outcomes.
For the past four years, Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM) has been on a mission to close these gaps. By bringing expert trainers to Michiana, MHAM has worked to raise awareness of perinatal mental health and build local capacity.
The MHAM Maternal Mental Health Fellowship
To tackle the growing demand for trained clinicians, MHAM launched the Maternal Mental Health Fellowship, supported by the Valinhos Family Foundation. This comprehensive training program is designed for master’s-level interns and early-career social work and counseling professionals.
Fellows receive extensive training, clinical experience, and weekly supervision to develop specialized skills in treating pregnant and postpartum women. The program also connects fellows with MHAM’s Pro Bono Counseling Project, which provides short-term counseling to community members facing financial and systemic barriers to care.
Voices from the Fellows
Olivia Morris, MSW, Community Action Coordinator, Beacon Health System
“This fellowship has been a fantastic opportunity for me to build individual counseling experience and grow my clinical skills. I’m passionate about maternal mental health and wanted to help increase access to counseling for perinatal women in the community.
The weekly supervision has been incredibly helpful as an early-career professional. Each week, I get to discuss my cases in depth, and the supportive guidance has built my confidence in clinical decision-making.
For any early-career mental health professional interested in gaining specialized experience in maternal mental health, this fellowship is a great opportunity.”
Gisselle Dwyer, LMHC-A, Oaklawn
“My knowledge about maternal mental health was limited when I started. This fellowship has helped me grow as a clinician through a unique combination of training, client work, and supervision.
What stands out most is the culturally diverse training and knowledgeable speakers we’ve had. The partnership between the fellowship and the Pro BonoCounseling Project has allowed us to reach clients in meaningful ways.”
A Word from MHAM’s Leadership
Lisa Kelly, LCSW, MHAM’s Executive Director and Clinical Supervisor, shares her passion for the program:
“We are thrilled to train the next generation of perinatal mental health clinicians while serving community members who have limited treatment options. Pregnant and postpartum women deserve effective care and support to ensure the best start in their parenting journey.
This fellowship is incredibly rewarding—it combines clinical training with impactful community service. Our fellows dedicate about five hours a week, including clinical hours, supervision, and additional training. Their work not only benefits the individuals they serve but also strengthens local mental health organizations by advancing workforce expertise.
Gisselle and Olivia have been fantastic partners in this inaugural cohort. Their insights have been invaluable as we pilot and refine this initiative. Applications for the next cohort are now open, and we’re excited to welcome the next group of fellows.”
Join the Mission
Are you or someone you know passionate about maternal mental health? To learn more about the MHAM Maternal Mental Health Fellowship or to apply for the next cohort, contact us at info@mhamichiana.org.
Together, we can ensure that every mother in our community receives the mental health care she deserves.
To learn more about the Pro Bono Counseling Project, click HERE!
Are you interested in volunteer opportunities? Send us an email:
info@mhamichiana.org
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