House Bill 3897: An Act Relative to Postpartum Depression will have a hearing on Wednesday before the Joint Committee on Financial Services.
The bill ensures that pregnant women will be able to receive universal screening and referral to treatment for depression during the perinatal period. Approximately 15% of new mothers in Massachusetts suffer from postpartum depression. Lead sponsor, Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst) will be holding a press event prior to the hearing at 9:30am at the Grand Staircase in the State House. Following the press event, the hearing will begin at 11am in Gardner Auditorium.
We encourage everyone to attend this event and contact your legislator about providing postpartum depression screenings for Massachusetts women. You can also download a fact sheet on the bill.
-Brittany McDaniel
The use of birth and postpartum doula services can reduce the onset of postpartum depression.
If health care providers can recommend doula services, and health insurance companies would cover these services, postpartum depression can be prevented.