Ep. 50 - Policy as Prevention: The Passion Behind AAPI Maternal Mental Health Research with Cindy Herrick, CPSS, PMH-C

This episode delves into the critical topic of maternal mental health research and policy, especially as it pertains to the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Our guest today features Cindy Herrick, a certified peer support specialist and Senior Editorial & Research Manager at the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. 

Cindy is a Taiwanese American mom of one who shares her personal journey through maternal mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and perinatal OCD, and discusses the systemic gaps in research and policy that affect AAPI mothers. While Cindy never imagined herself doing policy work, through volunteering, she realized that she could impact so many more people if she focused her energy on the research and policies that could affect so many moms that fall through the cracks—like herself. 

We also explore the pressing issue of maternal mental health within the AAPI community and what limited research has been done and is still currently being explored around AAPI moms, especially also around maternal suicide. The conversation highlights the importance of addressing these issues through storytelling, research, and policy change, and we hope it might inspire anyone to get involved in advocacy work. 

Thank you Cindy for your time and dedication to  maternal mental health awareness and even more so for our AAPI mothers!

More about Cindy:
Cindy has led the Maternal Suicide program at the Policy Center since 2018, and is an expert in maternal suicide, MMH screening, peer support, and researching MMH disorders from a holistic perspective. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing Science & Healthcare Innovation at Arizona State University, where she also received her MA in Special Education.  Her doctoral research focuses on maternal suicidality and mortality. 

Cindy is a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) in the State of Arizona and is also certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). She is a core member of the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Maternal Mortality Review Board (ADHS MMRC). Cindy is also on ADHS’s Arizona Maternal Mental Health Task Force, where she chaired the awareness workgroup.  As a Peer Support Certification Expert Panelist for SAMHSA, Cindy advised on the development of a national framework and standard for peer support.  Previously, Cindy served as the Strategic Partnerships & Campaigns Lead at the Policy Center, during which she routinely convened stakeholder events, led the national Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week Campaign (2018-2022), and served as the pharmaceutical advocacy liaison.  Additionally, Cindy serves as a reviewer and reviewer mentor for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).  Cindy is currently the President of the ASU Edson PhD Student Organization and will serve as the 2026 Community Liaison Officer for Marce of North America Perinatal Research Society.

Connect more with Cindy:
Email: cindy.herrick@policycentermmh.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyleeherrick