What does the Institute for Children’s Mental Health do?

The Institute supports the work of University of Colorado Denver clinicians and scientists to develop prenatal regimens for expectant mothers with natural vitamins and nutrients.
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These nutrients—choline, folic acid, and prenatal vitamins—are intended to protect children from mental illnesses including attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Choline, given to mother as phosphatidylcholine, work along with other nutrients in pregnancy for the goal of preventing these illnesses before they can develop, by enhancing the baby’s brain development before birth.
Prenatal intervention has now successfully enhanced the mental health outcome for children around the world.

What is the Institute doing now?

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​The Institute is supporting a new clinical trial of phosphatidylcholine supplements in early pregnancy to assess protection of the baby’s brain development, especially in mothers who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy or use marijuana. 
We are especially interested in Black mothers, who have the lowest choline levels. Low choline levels occur because of their high level of stress and often result in premature delivery. Prematurity causes problems in development throughout childhood. Phosphatidylcholine supplementation decreases premature birth and the adverse effects of viral infection and marijuana, with beneficial effects for the mental health of the children into early childhood.

The Institute provides public health information via:
PrenatalDoctorAdvice.com for expectant mothers and health care professionals. Spanish and Chinese information is included.

BlackBabiesMindsMatter.org for expectant mothers and health care professionals, especially those who care for Black women and their babies.

To support our work, please see our donation page.

Where do people receive help from Institute doctors?

The Institute’s clinical and research activities are carried out at the Jerome Kern Laboratory Department of Psychiatry, and the Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, the University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Medical Center, and National Jewish-St. Joseph’s Hospital.