PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A bill that would increase postpartum depression screenings and raise awareness to new mothers unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House.
House Bill 2127 requires clinicians to provide information about postpartum depression to mothers and their families, intending to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms and how to seek treatment.
“We wanted to create a public awareness campaign in Pennsylvania around specifically postpartum depression and maternal mental health to make sure more people — new moms, their families, their friends — are aware of the symptoms of postpartum depression, the ways that can show up in their lives,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia), the bill’s sponsor.
The measure would also instruct doctors to screen for postpartum depression right after the baby is born and during the first few postnatal check-up visits.
One in seven women struggle with postpartum depression. Another goal of the bill is to continue to chip away at the stigma that surrounds the condition.
“This can potentially impact all people, regardless of whether they live in an urban, rural or suburban area, and it touches people regardless of partisanship,” said Fiedler. “This is not something they need to live with in silence. And sadly, that’s the case for so many women across the commonwealth. They are in silence and in the dark about this serious mental health struggle.”
The measure is part of the Momnibus legislative package introduced by the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, which aims to combat high Black maternal mortality and morbidity rates in Pennsylvania.
It also has the support of organizations such as March of Dimes and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
House Bill 2127 now heads to the state Senate for consideration.