Ten Years of Changing the Maternal Mental Health Landscape in Wisconsin: A Conversation with Our Co-Founders

Sarah Ornst Bloomquist and Becky reflect on a decade of peer-driven perinatal mental health support in southeastern Wisconsin.

2016 photo, L to R: Becky Schroeder and Sarah Ornst Bloomquist, co-founders of Moms Mental Health Initiative

When Moms Mental Health Initiative (MMHI) was founded in 2016, it started with two moms, a shared experience of perinatal mental health struggles, and a conviction that things could be better for the moms who came after them. Nearly a decade later, MMHI has grown into Wisconsin's only organization dedicated exclusively to supporting pregnant and postpartum people navigating mental health disorders — serving thousands of families, building a provider network of 165+ vetted specialists, and helping reshape the perinatal mental health landscape across southeastern Wisconsin and Dane County.

We asked our co-founders, Sarah Ornst Bloomquist and Becky Schroeder to reflect on ten years: the decisions that shaped the organization, what still keeps them up at night, and what this community has meant to them.

Ten years ago, what did you think this would look like by now?

Sarah

"The whole thing was so organic — we saw a need and just wanted to act, to make it easier for moms with perinatal mental health disorders to get help. I don't think either of us really knew exactly what it would become. We just knew we had to start somewhere."

Becky

"I was only a year postpartum when the idea first came to us, and I became pregnant with my second while we were putting the finishing touches on the organization — so I was definitely in the thick of it as a mother, truly living day by day. The fact that MMHI is approaching 10 years is an absolute dream come true, and something that I think truly speaks to the ongoing needs of the perinatal community."

What decision, in hindsight, turned out to be the most important one you made?

Sarah

"The single most important decision we made was to focus on peer support and make it the hallmark of our model and services. That choice really shaped everything about MMHI — it's what sets us apart, it's what really meets moms where they're at, and it's the part of our work that has the biggest impact day in and day out."

Becky

"Sarah and I were both pained in our postpartum journeys by interacting with well-intentioned, but misinformed providers. This affected our ability to get better quickly and, in a way, prolonged our suffering. We wanted to make sure that didn't happen to the moms we served — so early on we started screening providers, meeting them for coffee, having phone conversations, vetting them before sending moms their way."

That commitment is still visible today: every provider in MMHI's referral network is individually vetted for both clinical expertise and genuine care for this vulnerable population.

What's the thing that still keeps you up at night?

Sarah

"What keeps me up at night is thinking about the people who are suffering — because I know how bad it can be. Despite everything we know, despite treatments that actually work, people are still falling apart, traumatized, and in pain. The healthcare system has no excuse for poor awareness, education, access, or inadequate treatment. But it's siloed, inconsistent, and keeps letting moms down. What really hits me is that this is happening to new moms — especially those in marginalized communities — without the attention, research, or support they deserve. People shouldn't be suffering like this. They shouldn't be in danger. They shouldn't be dying."

Becky

"I think the stigma. While we definitely have a much wider conversation around PMADs than we did 10 years ago, moms still feel blindsided and ashamed when symptoms start. I remember sharing my medication regimen on social media in hopes that it would take the pressure off moms who were hesitant to take something for their anxiety or depression. The more we can treat mental health conditions the same as we do medical conditions, the greater our impact — but that takes people willing to talk about what's going on out loud, and for professionals to openly discuss the prevalence of PMADs with their patients."

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders affect 1 in 5 birthing people. They are the leading complication of childbirth — and the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first year postpartum. These are not statistics to be filed away. They are the reason MMHI exists.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice on day one, what would it be?

Sarah

"I'd tell myself to really trust myself and give myself some grace. To trust my gut more — to know that the instincts that got me here in the first place were worth listening to. I think I would have worried less about doing everything perfectly and just leaned into the vision we had, even when it felt messy or uncertain."

Becky

"I think it would have been to get some consulting around nonprofit management when we first started. Sarah and I had virtually no experience running a nonprofit, and we learned in real time. It became clear in the first couple of years that our growth would only be sustainable with fundraising, and we probably should have started that process earlier. Our story is truly grassroots and started with our own lived experience — and I'm so proud of that — but I'd be remiss not to say we could have used a little more expertise in the beginning."

How has the community you serve shaped the organization in ways you never expected?

Sarah

"Their courage and resilience have strengthened our commitment to peer support and shown us the true power of amplifying their voices. Every person's story is unique, and these conditions show up differently for everyone we serve. Their experiences don't just inspire us — they push us to challenge and improve the systems around perinatal mental health. Because of them, we've been able to advocate for meaningful, system-level changes, ensuring that policies and programs reflect the realities of moms' lives. Their strength fuels our mission. It's what keeps us showing up every single day."

Becky

"Moms with PMADs want to give back. If you look at our volunteers, staff, and board members over the years, many of them had a profound experience with their perinatal mental health that inspired them to help others. Everything MMHI was and has become is shaped by the community of women we serve — and that's why it's been so successful."

What makes MMHI different — not in mission statement language, but in your own words?

Sarah

"What makes MMHI different is that we ground everything in lived experience, paired with clinical and evidence-informed knowledge. That combination is really unique — and it's necessary. It ensures that the moms we serve actually get the help they deserve, and that everyone they interact with knows how to support them in a way that's urgent, effective, and truly meaningful."

Becky

"I think what makes MMHI special is that we have completely changed the landscape of perinatal mental health in the communities we serve. I remember the first time someone outside of the organization said this to me — I was unsure if I really believed it, because as a leader you can sometimes feel unsure how the community perceives you. I knew without a doubt we were helping moms, but changing the landscape was more than that. As the months and years passed, it became evident that MMHI had created a model of care that worked and truly filled a serious void in our communities."

A Decade of Showing Up for Maternal Mental Health in Wisconsin

Ten years ago, two moms who had lived through the darkness of perinatal mental health disorders decided the moms who came after them deserved better. They had no nonprofit playbook. They had lived experience, community, and each other.

Today, MMHI has served thousands of families across southeastern Wisconsin and Dane County, built a network of 165+ vetted specialists, trained public health departments statewide, and created a peer support community that moms consistently call a lifeline.

The landscape of maternal mental health in Wisconsin has changed. And MMHI is proud to have helped change it.

If you or someone you love is navigating a perinatal mental health condition, MMHI is here. Visit momsmentalhealthinitiative.org to find resources, connect with a peer supporter, or locate a vetted provider near you.