Chancellor Justin Schwartz on Thursday announced a new initiative aimed at strengthening 91Ž«Ăœâ€™s ongoing commitment to student mental health and wellness. Schwartz has charged Sona Dimidjian, professor and director of the RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute, with leading the effort, which is expected to result in a set of recommendations for specific implementation actions and a collaborative plan for assessing impact over time.

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Recent from the Crown Institute’s Alma program highlight promising advances in addressing perinatal depression and anxiety among Latina mothers.  

In a multi-site open trial involving 126 participants, Alma demonstrated significant reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress – offering rapid relief during a critical life stage. Notably, many participants experienced "sudden gains" within the first two sessions, reporting noteworthy reductions in distress.  

“This is about giving mothers tools that work right away and empowering them to take an active role in their mental health,” said Anahi Collado, PhD, Assistant Research Professor at the Crown Institute and Principal Investigator for the Alma program. “The early gains we’re seeing show that culturally responsive, peer-led interventions can make a real difference—even in a short amount of time.” 

Alma participants also experienced increased activity levels and a greater sense of reward from their environment—the satisfaction they derived from their surroundings. These changes were strongly linked to sustained improvements in mental health. 

The program is centered on behavioral activation (BA), an evidence-based approach rooted in a simple yet profound principle: people can change how they feel by changing what they do. 

“The idea behind BA is that when people feel depressed, they often withdraw from activities that bring them joy or a sense of accomplishment, which can lead to a downward spiral of isolation and depression,” added Collado. 

Addressing a Growing Crisis 

Offered in both English and Spanish, Alma is a peer-to-peer mentoring program that supports new and expectant parents. By working directly with the communities it serves, Alma builds on their strengths and fosters meaningful connections. 

Developed by researchers, mental health professionals, community members, and parents, Alma equips new and expectant parents with the support and skills needed to overcome challenges and reduce depression, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy and early parenting. 

The comes at a time when mental health challenges among Latina mothers are reaching critical levels. Between 12%–59% of Latinas report high levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms during the perinatal period, yet only a fraction of those who seek care receive adequate follow-up or treatment.  

Barriers such as stigma, language differences, and systemic discrimination prevent many Latina mothers from accessing timely mental health support. These challenges are compounded by additional stressors like poverty, trauma, immigration status, and acculturative stress, all of which are strongly associated with an increased likelihood of perinatal depression and anxiety. 

Trust and Connection Through Shared Experience 

directly aims to address these systemic barriers. The program pairs mothers with compañeras de apoyo—peer mentors with lived experience—who provide culturally responsive guidance and emotional support. These mentors help participants identify personal goals, schedule mood boosting activities, and address contextual challenges, empowering them to take charge of their recovery. 

“It’s not just the language, it’s that the mothers are understood culturally. We make them feel like they are in a safe space, like they are with an equal who genuinely wants to connect with them,” says Sol Angel Ramos, Alma peer mentor supervisor. 

Peer mentorship has been shown to enhance trust, reduce stigma, and increase receptivity to mental health care, particularly among underserved communities. 

“Alma builds on this evidence, fostering strong cultural alignment through its focus on “poner de su parte”—a preference among many Latinx individuals that emphasizes taking an active role in one’s recovery,” added Collado. 

The program also demonstrates great potential for scalability. During the pandemic, the Alma team successfully transitioned to virtual delivery, removing geographic and logistical barriers and increasing access for underserved populations.  

“This flexibility positions Alma as a potential model for expanding maternal mental health care across the nation. The evidence-based approach of behavioral activation makes it especially suitable for peer delivery and bridging gaps in the mental health workforce.” said Sona Dimidijan, PhD, Professor and Director of the Crown Institute.  

Maternal Mental Health Starts with Prevention 

By addressing depression and anxiety symptoms before they escalate into bigger issues, the program provides crucial early intervention. This approach benefits not only mothers but also their children, as maternal mental health is closely linked to child health and development outcomes. 

As policymakers and public health leaders grapple with maternal mental health, Alma might offer a blueprint for accessible care. Its success demonstrates the potential of culturally responsive, evidence-based programs that center the voices of the communities they serve. 

For the mothers participating in Alma, the program is more than just a mental health program—it’s a lifeline. To date, it has served over 250 new and expectant parents directly through the program at the Crown Institute, and more than 480 through our organizational and institutional partners in Colorado, New Jersey, and California. 

“The thing about Alma, is that it’s not just the eight weeks. It becomes a life process.” Ramos concluded.  

Interested in learning more about Alma? click here.  

Contributors: AnahĂ­ Collado, Sona Dimidjian, Laurel Hicks, Samuel Hubley, Joseph Levy, Caitlin McKimmy, Marta Genovez, Robert Gallop, Desiree Bauer, Elena Aranda. 

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The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) is bestowed by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers who show outstanding potential for leadership and innovation, and recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology. 

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The BVSD Board of Education and the RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute are partnering to analyze how students are using wellness centers. 

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The RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute's Alma program and it's peer-to-peer approach helps women experiencing depression and anxiety during or after pregnancy feel understood and supported. 

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The Crown Institute’s  is stepping up to address the mental health needs of Latina mothers. This culturally responsive, peer-led initiative is designed to meet the unique challenges faced by new and expectant mothers—especially those in underserved communities.

As we celebrate , it’s important to recognize the efforts of programs like Alma, which are actively addressing mental health disparities in Latinx communities. In the U.S., untreated perinatal depression and anxiety disproportionately affect women from racial and ethnic minorities, with Latinas being particularly vulnerable. Research shows that up to 52% of Latinas experience perinatal depression. 

In Colorado, of mothers reported heightened mental health distress within the first four months postpartum. Left untreated, these conditions not only impact mothers' well-being but also negatively affect their children's development and mother-infant bonding. 

Bridging the Gap in Perinatal Mental Health for Latinas 

Alma is a research-based, peer-to-peer mentoring program designed to support new and expectant parents experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress. Rooted in care, maternal wisdom, and science, it leverages community strengths and offers an innovative solution to the shortage of mental health professionals. 

“Alma helped me understand my mother—why she was sad. Now I can use that understanding to help other mothers. Alma also taught me how to grieve and heal from my own losses. I want Alma to be available to all mothers, to all women,” shares Maria Isabel Almeida, Alma Spanish-Speaking Peer Mentor.

Since its inception, it has supported more than 400 mothers, in both English and Spanish-speaking communities. 

Gracia Deras, an Alma Spanish-Speaking Peer Mentor and Trainer, recalls an encounter that highlights the profound impact of Alma’s approach. She met a mother from Guatemala who didn’t speak Spanish, but rather a Guatemalan dialect. Despite the language barrier, Gracia adapted, using simple words to communicate with the mother, who she later found out was trapped in an abusive relationship. 

By the end of their meetings, the mother found the strength to leave the abusive situation and began working toward providing a better future for her three children. This story is a testament to the power of connection, even in the face of significant challenges. 

Expanding Reach through the Train-the-Trainer Model 

Today, the goal is to expand Alma's reach through the train-the-trainer model, empowering community organizations to deliver maternal mental health support independently. 

"Through this model, the Crown Institute aims to build capacity in both rural and urban communities across Colorado, empowering local organizations to independently expand and sustain the Alma program. Our goal is to reduce the alarming rates of perinatal depression and anxiety, offering hope to the mothers who need it most," says Anahi Collado, PhD, Assistant Research Professor at the Crown Institute and Principal Investigator for the Alma program.  

The partnerships with organizations like in Denver, serving Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle counties highlight a shared commitment to health equity. These organizations, with their strong connections to the Latinx community, are vital collaborators in ensuring maternal mental health services are both accessible and culturally appropriate. 

The train-the-trainer model will exponentially expand Alma’s reach. By equipping peer mentors, community health workers, and promotoras with the skills and resources to support their communities, we are building a sustainable infrastructure for maternal mental health.  

This approach has already gained momentum, with organizations like Lifespan Local in Denver—trained by the Crown Institute in 2020—requesting further support to continue serving their communities effectively. Additionally, the program has expanded through partnerships in the State of New Jersey and with Postpartum Support International. 

“Our communities are vulnerable, often unheard, but they are incredibly strong. If you give them the tools, they can accomplish so much for their neighborhoods, their communities, and their country,” says Solangel Ramos, Lifespan Local Project Director - Alma  

Tackling Mental Health Disparities 

Mental health disparities, particularly for monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinas, remain a critical issue. Alma’s holistic, culturally responsive approach not only addresses these disparities but also fosters long-term systemic change. By integrating peer mentorship, community engagement, and evidence-based mental health practices, we are making meaningful strides toward health equity. 

“The experience of us as mothers, realizing that we are not alone, that there are other mothers going through the same thing, who suffered ailments, felt alone, felt that fear, and made mistakes. That is what makes the difference between a supportive peer and a mental health professional,” mentions Almeida.

One of Alma's strengths is its ability to connect mothers with the appropriate mental health professionals when cases are more complex. This ensures that those facing more serious challenges receive the specialized care and support they need, while still benefiting from the community-based, culturally responsive framework that Alma provides. 

With the support of its partners, the Alma program is creating a growing network of Latinx leaders, driving the push for maternal mental health advocacy and setting the stage for healthier families, stronger communities, and a brighter future.

Additional reporting and interviews by Julianne Chandler, North American Congress on Latin America Editor.

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The RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute partners with Boulder Valley School District to evaluate the effectiveness of school wellness centers and how to better support for students' mental health needs.

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Liquid, together with the RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute, have been recognized at the  for their innovative approach to social and emotional education for young children showcased in the interactive learning app, .

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Since 2019, the RenĂ©e Crown Wellness Institute has been combining science and community to explore how women who have experienced perinatal mood and anxiety disorders—with an emphasis on depression—can be resources to others navigating similar challenges.

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