Under a bill currently in the legislature, people suffering from postpartum or perinatal depression will have access to more state-sponsored resources.
Senate Bill 135 would order the state health cabinet to develop regulations to screen for postpartum and perinatal depression, and work with stakeholders to develop clinical assessment tools that would be available on the state’s website.
Republican senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer from Alexandria stated that some pregnancies can benefit from therapy and other resources.
“We really understand that pregnant mothers and postpartum mothers will be less likely to suffer from pregnancy related depression and pregnancy related mental health with a greater emphasis on this need,” she said.
Thursday’s unanimous approval by the Senate Committee on Family Services made the bill eligible for vote in the full Senate.
Kentucky has one The nation has the highest rates of maternal mortality.
According to a report of the Kentucky Maternal Mortality Review Committee91% of all maternal deaths in 2018 could have been prevented. The study attributed 8.4% of maternal deaths in the state to suicide and 128 were “accidental” deaths that didn’t clearly result from physical health complications.
A slew bill of bills has been filed by lawmakers Addressing maternal mental health There are concerns that Kentucky’s high number of pregnancies may be linked to substance abuse and behavioral disorders.
Ashley Belcher, a psychologist who has been specializing in mental health issues such as postpartum mood disorder and other mental health problems, said that they affect one fifth of all women and are often ignored.
“Everyone thinks that they’re just sad. They aren’t aware of the magnitude of that depression or how deep it could go. It can be a silent suffering, and people don’t want to talk about it after they come out of it,” she said.
Postpartum depression This is depression that happens within six months of delivery and pregnancy. Untreated, the condition can cause anxiety, mood disorders, and suicidal ideas for the pregnant woman, as well as impaired cognitive development and behavioral issues in the children.
Experts agree that perinatal depression is often ignored when talking about maternal mental well-being.
Belcher said postpartum and perinatal depression doesn’t just affect the pregnant person, it also hurts their partners.
“There’s an undeniable amount of adjustment to be done to become a parent, and the stress of that triggers depression and anxiety in fathers too,” she said.
Christina Libby is a Kentucky Voices for Health health outreach navigator. She said that her postpartum depression experience made it clear how difficult it was to find a doctor who understood her struggles.
“It was unfortunately difficult to find anybody who both took my insurance and specialized in maternal mental health. If the time after bringing a new baby into your life is anything, it is a time of healing, and not just for your body,” she said.
Several bills related to maternal health are being considered by lawmakers this year.
- House Bill 233It would address mental health disparities during perinatal care.
- House Bill 281This would allow parents with postpartum depression to be covered by Medicaid.
- House Bill 269This would offer depression screenings to parents.
- House Bill 274This would include information about perinatal and postpartum depression as part of a voluntary, statewide home visiting program.
- House Bill 268, which would create a Perinatal Advisory Committee in order to provide evidence-based treatment guidance on the treatment of perinatal mood disorder.
