Urge Congress to ensure that moms have access to the mental health resources they need! SIGN NOW

Dear Friend,

“I had several instances of being paralyzed with anxiety and having to abandon my plan of going somewhere. I wasn’t sleeping, up off and on all night with my son, profoundly sad, crying most nights, and still anxious but pushing on and showing up for my [work] team and my family, sucking it up, smiling through it all. I was burning the candle at both ends.”

Lauren from Illinois shared her struggles after the birth of her son. Lauren is not alone. Up to 1 in 5 women suffer from maternal mental health disorders like depression or anxiety in the U.S. and research shows that this number has more than doubled during the pandemic. [1] In fact maternal mental health disorders are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, yet 75% of those experiencing these illnesses remain untreated..

Champions of mental health and maternal health have been working hard to pass groundbreaking legislation to give moms like Lauren the resources and support they need. Led by the national organization Shades of Blue Project, service providers, advocates, parent groups, and researchers have joined forces to make sure that the 800,000 American mothers who experience maternal mental health disorders and substance use disorders each year have access to the support they need. [2]

Click here and add your name to our letter calling on Congress to support critical funding for maternal mental health.

We’ve heard from so many moms like Lauren who have struggled with anxiety, depression and substance use disorder. Increased demand and barriers to mental health care because of the pandemic mean even fewer moms have been able to receive treatment. This is particularly concerning for moms of color who have faced a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and who experience maternal mental health disorders at rates 2-3 times higher than white women. [3][4]

The good news - Right now, several pieces of legislation are pending before Congress that will ensure that mothers get the mental health support they need. The Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act provides essential funding for maternal mental health programs including a dedicated hotline providing 24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish. The TRIUMPH for New Moms Act will help improve coordination around maternal mental health efforts including the establishment of a national task force to streamline existing programs. The Moms Matter Act will invest in prevention, intervention, and treatment as well as help grow and diversify the maternal mental health workforce.

Click here and add your name now to our letter urging Congress to ensure that all moms have access to the mental health resources they need.

Let’s be clear: maternal mental health disorders are the most common complication of childbearing, but stigma, fear, and lack of information mean we don’t talk about it as much as we should. In fact, 1 in 5 women report NOT being screened for maternal depression despite universal screening being recommended. [5] Historical inequities, implicit bias, lack of culturally congruent care, and lack of access to providers means that women of color face even higher barriers to obtaining treatment.[6]

We can and we must do better for mothers, babies, and those who love and care for them. Congress is setting its funding priorities for the year and must increase support for maternal mental health. Now is the time. We must prioritize the health and well-being of mothers and babies by increasing funding for maternal mental health.

Add your name now so I can make sure your voice is heard too, and be sure to share the link below with your friends and family so they can also take action.

Together we can ensure healthy outcomes for moms, babies, families and our communities.

-- Tina, Monifa, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org/MamásConPoder Team

P.S. Did you recently give birth? Please share your postpartum experience with us!

[1] California’s Strategic Plan: A catalyst for shifting statewide systems to improve care across California and beyond

[2] Pathways To Equitable And Antiracist Maternal Mental Health Care: Insights From Black Women Stakeholders | Health Affairs Journal

[3] COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, who survey

[4] The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Women of Color, Research in Women’s Health

[5] Racial and Ethnic Differences in Factors Associated With Early Postpartum Depressive Symptoms. Obstet Gynecol

[6] Advancing Racial Equity in Maternal Mental Health Policy, CLASP

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