Reps. Robin Kelly, Young Kim Lead Resolution Recognizing Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Young Kim (CA-40), who serve as co-chairs of the Maternity Care Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate May 5-11, 2024 as "Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week" to raise awareness about maternal mental health and its effects on maternal-child health.

"Mental health challenges affect millions of mothers every year, but mothers rarely ask for help or seek treatment. I am proud to join my colleague and Maternity Care Caucus co-chair, Congresswoman Young Kim, to introduce this resolution marking Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. We must end the stigma and increase access to treatment for moms suffering from mental health challenges. These services are especially important in light of heightened maternal mortality, morbidity, and mental health needs, disproportionately impacting communities of color, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress must ensure that resources like the maternal mental health hotline are accessible and reach the communities that need them most," said Congresswoman Kelly.

"Untreated maternal mental health disorders impact 1 in 5 mothers and cost the United States $14.2 billion each year. The emotional toll of mental health challenges on women cannot be overstated, yet far too few women seek the help that they need during pregnancy," said Congresswoman Kim. "I am proud to lead this bipartisan resolution to recognize Maternal Mental Health Awareness week and highlight the importance of maternal health care. I will keep working as co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus to deliver results and support women, whether they are pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or facing infertility."

"MemorialCare focuses on enterprise-wide strategic maternal health priorities, successfully improving outcomes for both mothers and babies while expanding access to care to address health equity within its clinical programs," said Shela Kaneshiro, chief clinical transformation officer, MemorialCare. "By providing maternal mental health support groups, participating in pilot programs like the one with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and other programs has allowed us to better understand how to help our families connect to the right maternal care at the right time."

"Mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, and if left untreated can have long-term negative impact on the mother, baby, family, and society. We thank Congress for recognizing these challenges and elevating the importance of maternal mental health. Our nation's parents deserve support, encouragement, and resources during and following pregnancy so they, and their infants, can get off to the best start possible," said Adrienne Griffen, Executive Director, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Health Awareness Week, including:

• Raising awareness of the risk factors, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for maternal mental health conditions for pregnant and postpartum women and their families, the providers who care for them, and the public;
• Recognizing that maternal mental health disorders and maternal suicide are serious public health problems;
• Honoring the mothers who have died by suicide and the children and families left behind;
• Encouraging research on safe and effective treatments for pregnant and postpartum women, dissemination of updated data on evidence-based treatments to the medical community and public, and provider training on the treatment of maternal mental health disorders; and
• Promoting initiatives that address provider shortages and increase affordable access to treatment for maternal mental health disorders so that suffering mothers and their families can recover and thrive.

Reps. Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Bonnie Watson-Coleman (NJ-12), Julia Letlow (LA-05), and Susan Wild (PA-07) joined the resolution as original co-sponsors.

Read the full resolution here.

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