Elizabeth Stevenson and Sarah J. Hink of New Direction Family Law, joined by associate attorney Tyler E. Kaestner, interview Veronica Kemeny, a licensed clinical social worker and co-owner of Anchor Perinatal Wellness in Raleigh, during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. They discuss perinatal mental health as an inclusive term covering trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum (up to two years), and non-birthing partners, and review conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Kemeny explains warning signs such as impaired functioning and inability to sleep when given the chance, normalizes intrusive thoughts, and emphasizes the importance of trained providers due to stigma and misinterpretation. The conversation covers risk factors, medication concerns, impacts on relationships and divorce/custody cases, and resources like Postpartum Support International, nurse visiting programs, UNC’s perinatal inpatient unit, and Anchor’s intensive program, teletherapy, childcare, and free walk-in maternal mental health clinic at anchorperinatal.com.

00:00 UNC Perinatal Units

00:43 Meet the Guests

01:40 Veronica and Anchor Program

03:16 What Perinatal Mental Health Means

04:36 When Symptoms Become Serious

05:51 Red Flags Sleep and Safety

07:20 Intrusive Thoughts and Stigma

10:56 Screening and Provider Gaps

12:23 Risk Factors and Prevention

15:29 Resources Programs and Medication

17:36 Social Media Comparison Trap

17:52 Finding Realistic Support

18:54 Marriage Strain After Baby

19:22 Teamwork and Self Care Plan

22:17 Sleep Boundaries and Visitors

24:28 When to Seek Treatment

25:44 Divorce and Custody Bias

29:07 Free Nurse Visiting Programs

30:25 How to Get Help

31:42 Final Takeaways