Closing Gaps in Maternal Mental Healthcare

The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health is a national think tank, nonprofit organization advancing policies that support a health care system that routinely detects and treats maternal mental health disorders for every mother, every time.

CT Policy

H.B. 6835 (2023) proclaims the month of May each year to be Maternal Mental Health Month and May fifth of each year to be Maternal Mental Health Day to raise awareness of issues surrounding maternal mental health.

HB 5500 (2022): Required the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee to develop educational materials regarding (1) the health and safety of pregnant and postpartum persons with mental health disorders, including, but not limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, for distribution by the Department of Public Health to each birthing hospital in the state (2) Evidence-based screening tools for screening patients for intimate partner violence, peripartum mood disorders and substance use disorder for distribution by the Department of Public Health to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics;

Required birthing hospitals provide each postpartum patient with the educational materials about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders developed by the maternal mortality review committee.

The bill also called on the Governor to proclaim the month of May of each year as Maternal Mental Health Month and May 5th of each year Maternal Mental Health Day.