Congress Passes Groundbreaking Postpartum Depression Legislation

Over 400,000 women in the U.S. suffer from postpartum depression each year. Yet only an estimated 15 percent of those mothers receive treatment, and countless women who have suffered from PPD report feeling deeply alone in their struggles.  But the federal government is offering families a glimmer of hope for the future of maternal mental health in the U.S. On Nov. 30, Rep. Katherine M. Clark (D-Mass.) announced that her maternal mental health legislation, the Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act, passed in the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, it passed in the Senate.  #Breaking: The U.S. House just passed my bill to help moms affected by #postpartum depression #PPD #momsmatter https://t.co/RJM7pUmNk3 pic.twitter.com/hokS4WqrtZ— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) November 30, 2016 The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide federal grants to states for the purpose of screening, assessing and treating PPD. The grants would allow states to create, improve or maintain programs around maternal mental health and help women who are pregnant or recently gave birth.  “As a mom of three boys, I know how rewarding, as well as how overwhelming and exhausting, a new baby can be,” Clark told The Huffington Post. “Moms comprise fewer than a fifth of Congress, so it’s especially important for us to bring these perspectives into policymaking,” she added. “I introduced...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news