NCMMH Says Have a Heart ... #LoveAnotherMother for Valentine's Day

    LOS ANGELES, CA, February 12, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health (NCMMH) is hosting a national #LoveAnotherMother day of action tomorrow, Feb 11, asking supporters to call, tweet or share with their Congressional representatives to urge them to co-sponsor the Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act of 2015, which provides financial incentives to states to create improved access to treatment for maternal mental health conditions like postpartum depression.

House of Representatives Bill #HR3235, introduced by Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA), and the companion Senate Bill #S2311, introduced by Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), call for an amendment to the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states for screening and treatment for maternal depression.

The non-partisan bills - which are currently supported by eight congress members - call for the federal government to provide $5 million annually for four years, 2016-2020, to states to support their actions in finding "innovative solutions" to this pervasive problem.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, postpartum depression is the most common, yet most under-diagnosed, obstetrical complication in the country. Research suggests up to 20 percent of the approximately 4 million U.S. women who give birth each year will be affected by a maternal mental health disorder, including depression, anxiety and psychosis, which occur during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum--which can have grave effects on the unborn child, infants and on families in general. But postpartum conditions are treatable!

The #LoveAnotherMother campaign is being launched on the heels of a recent victory for the cause in an important announcement by the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), which sets forth guidelines around preventive and diagnostic screening. On Jan. 26, the Task Force recommended screening for depression in the general adult population, including pregnant and postpartum women, noting screening should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and appropriate follow-up.

Commented Joy Burkhard, National Coalition Chair, "In most communities, there is a shortage of qualified providers, including therapists and psychiatrists, who are qualified to treat maternal mental health disorders. Until states have the resources needed to tackle the problem of access to treatment, a screening recommendation cannot be acted upon."

Adds Katherine Stone, founder of Postpartum Progress, a member organization of the NCMMH, "These bills would be a significant step forward in providing resources to supporting women and their families who are seeking help and access to treatment. There is a groundswell of support from governmental agencies, NGOs, the medical community, survivors and advocates. We hope that Congress will send a message about the importance of maternal mental health and provide the necessary resources to make a difference."

Survivors, advocates and other supporters are invited to contact their representatives' Capitol Hill offices. To find your representative, visit: http://www.congress.gov/members

Take Action! Tweet using your representative's Twitter handle or post to their Facebook page.

SENATE: #LoveAnotherMother @Rep'sHandleHere Support Moms and families! Cosponsor #S2311! Bring #PPD Out of the Shadows b/c #MomsMatter

HOUSE: #LoveAnotherMother @Rep'sHandleHere Support Moms and families! Cosponsor #HR3235! Bring #PPD Out of the Shadows b/c #MomsMatter

For a call script, visit: http://www.mmhcoalition.com/advocacy_toolkit

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maycampaign
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maycampaign

Contacts:

Social Change PR & Marketing

Vicki Greenleaf
323-660-5800
[email protected]

Dorrit Ragosine
213-509-7748
[email protected]

About the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health
The National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health (NCMMH) was formed in 2013, bringing together some of the country's leading non-profit voices addressing these disorders to drive national advocacy, create and implement uniform awareness campaigns and engage national thought leaders. Member organizations include: 2020 Mom (Los Angeles), Junior League of San Francisco, Maternal Mental Health Now (Los Angeles), MotherWoman (Hadley, Mass.), Postpartum Health Alliance (San Diego), Postpartum Progress (Atlanta), Postpartum Support International (Portland, Ore.) and Utah Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (Salt Lake City). Visit us online at: http://www.mmhcoalition.com

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