Moms' mental health resources are needed, urge Congressional support!

TELL CONGRESS: It’s time to invest in Maternal Mental Health!

As the call for more mental health services intensifies in the United States, in light of recent acts of mass violence, it’s important that we urge our leaders to remember that maternal mental health care is part of that urgent need.

Maternal mental health disorders like postpartum depression are so common, yet 1 in 5 women report NOT being screened for these disorders despite universal screening being recommended. Historical inequities, including lack of access to providers, means that women of color face even greater barriers to seeking treatment.

There is legislation pending in Congress that would effectively address the maternal mental health crisis and we must urge our leaders to support it!

The Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act would provide state funding for maternal mental health programs and for a dedicated national hotline providing 24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish. The TRIUMPH for New Moms Act would help improve coordination around maternal mental health efforts including the establishment of a national task force to streamline existing programs. And finally, the Moms Matter Act would invest in prevention, intervention, and treatment as well as help grow and diversify the maternal mental health workforce.

The Moms Matter Act is part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, a comprehensive package of bills that must also be passed, which includes significant investments in community-based programs that are working to address equity issues in maternal health, provide funding for tech to address racism and biases in screening and treatment, and expand mental health treatments and supports. This holistic package will go far to change our nation's position as the most dangerous place to give birth among industrialized nations.

Dear Member of Congress:

While society has been turning its focus on the U.S. mental health crisis, the call for increased services and treatment must also include new mothers.

Maternal mental health conditions, like postpartum depression and anxiety, are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 800,000 women in the US each year. Yet approximately 75% of women report going untreated. The abysmal rates of diagnosis and effective treatment contribute to making suicide and overdose the leading causes of death in the first year after a baby is born.

As a proud member of MomsRising, I urge you to vote YES on the following pieces of legislation:

Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act to provide state funding for maternal mental health programs and for a dedicated national hotline providing 24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish.

The TRIUMPH for New Moms Act to help improve coordination around maternal mental health efforts including the establishment of a national task force to streamline existing programs.

The Moms Matter Act to invest in prevention, intervention, and treatment as well as help grow and diversify the maternal mental health workforce.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus, a comprehensive package of bills that includes significant investments in community-based programs to diversify the maternal health workforce, provide funding for tech to address racism and biases in screening and treatment, and expand mental health treatments and supports.

We must invest in these maternal health equity lifelines that help new mothers and babies thrive.

Sincerely,

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