Supporting Adolescent Mothers’ Mental Health in Florida
A new study by Olajumoke Ojeleye from the University of South Florida and funded by a 2024 APNA Research Grant, offers insights into the mental health experiences of adolescents who are pregnant and/or parenting, a group often overlooked in perinatal care.
“Perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety are increasing among this population — three to four times the rate in adult women,” Ojeleye said.
“Unfortunately, far too little attention has been paid to their experiences, including their knowledge, perceptions, preferred approach, mental health needs, and access to psychiatric-mental health care.”
The Study
For six months, Ojeleye conducted 23 in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of adolescents aged 15–19 who are pregnant and/or parenting across urban, suburban, and rural Tampa Bay, Florida, communities. The interviews delved into how these adolescents understand perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety, their mental health needs, how they prefer to be served, and the barriers and facilitators this group experiences in accessing perinatal mental health services and interventions.
Key Findings
An analysis of the barriers and facilitators to perinatal mental health services and resources identified six key themes through the interviews conducted.
| Theme | Example Barriers | Example Facilitators |
| Provider-Related | Provider judgment and lack of empathy | Provider empathy builds comfort and confidence |
| Pregnant & Parenting Adolescent-Related | Emotional exhaustion | Desire to be a better parent |
| Family & Relational | Cultural and familial beliefs | Peer shared experiences |
| Availability & Quality of Resources | Lack of visibility of existing perinatal mental health resources | Structured support programs |
| Logistical | Transportation challenges | Holistic & wraparound services |
| Environmental | Disruptive and unsupportive home environments | Community & church-based support |
“While social networks enhance pregnant and parenting adolescents’ mental health awareness, they still rely heavily on health care providers for guidance,” Ojeleye said.
“Further, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have also become key sources of mental health information, underscoring the importance of ensuring credible content on these platforms.”
These findings have been developed into four manuscripts, one of which has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. The findings were presented at five conferences, including the 2025 APNA Annual Conference in October.
Applications for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
- Providers can engage in genuine conversations with pregnant and parenting adolescents, as they are eager for meaningful dialogue and to hear from providers.
- It is important to tailor perinatal mental health literacy and educational materials to empower and meet the needs and care preferences of pregnant and parenting adolescents.
- Collaborative research with this population and key stakeholders is needed to develop and pilot scalable perinatal mental health interventions.
December 2025
