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Mental health conditions are among the most common medical complications during pregnancy, and suicide and overdose are among the leading causes of death for postpartum individuals. However, pregnant and postpartum individuals often do not receive needed treatment.
This has negative long-term consequences not only for the parent, but also for their child and families. Research has found that parental mental health and substance use disorders increase children’s risk for early symptoms of behavioral problems and subsequent substance use.
Amid the growing overdose and youth mental health crises, addressing parental mental health and substance use is more critical than ever.
Tell your members of Congress to support the Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act (S. 3824/H.R. 7073), which would reauthorize and expand an existing screening and treatment program for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders and provide continued funding for the Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a 24/7 program operated by health care professionals trained to help pregnant or postpartum individuals and family members affected by maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
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