Nearly one in eight women experience postpartum depression, or PPD, after giving birth in the United States. PPD contributes to higher rates of postpartum substance abuse, domestic violence, infant mortality, and even psychosis or suicide.

Recent research demonstrates that there is a cost-effective way to decrease the rate of PPD by a staggering 50%, but the funding cuts looming over the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, could bring this breakthrough to a screeching halt.

Preventing PPD is not only important on an individual level, but for the health care system as a whole: a single case of untreated PPD costs $33,484 on average. These costs can be even higher in rural or underserved areas of the country. That’s why the National Institute of Mental Health has dedicated a portion of its funding to improving maternal mental health.

As a result, The Reach Out, Stay Strong Essentials, or ROSE, program has emerged as an affordable way to prevent PPD. The program prepares women for the postpartum period with a series of four educational sessions during pregnancy. The sessions focus on mental health, interpersonal relationships and community resources. Five randomized clinical studies have demonstrated that the ROSE program prevents half of cases of postpartum depression, a remarkable feat.