Rep. Rush Pushed Legislation that Will Save New Mothers Lives

Press Release

Rep. Rush Pushed Legislation that Will Save New Mothers Lives

The U.S. Congress Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health held a hearing today to learn more about the harmful effects of postpartum depression on new mothers and what Congress can do to keep mothers from potentially harming themselves and their babies.

"Research indicates that some form of postpartum depression affects approximately 1 in 1,000 new mothers resulting in upward of 400,000 new cases each year," said Rep. Rush during the hearing. Rush first introduced this bill in January of 2003 and has been a persistent advocate for better health care research and care for new mothers.

"Over the past few years, this Committee has agreed that supporting passage of this legislation will allow scientists, researchers, health care professionals and families across this country to combat this disease. This bill, the "Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act" is long overdue and I appreciate the committee's attention, support, and immediate consideration," added Rush. The bill currently has more than 100 cosponsors.

Of the new postpartum cases this year, less than 15 percent of mothers will receive treatment, although scientists argue, with treatment over 90 percent of these mothers could overcome their depression.

All too often postpartum depression goes undiagnosed or untreated. This is due to the social stigma surrounding depression and mental illness, the myth of motherhood, the new mother's inability to self-diagnose her condition. It is also due to the new mother's shame or embarrassment over discussing her depression so near to the birth of her child, the lack of understanding in society and the medical community of the complexity of postpartum depression, and economic pressures placed on hospitals and providers.

One of the most passionate witnesses was Carol Blocker, the mother of Melanie Blocker-Stokes whom the bill is named after. "Melanie took her life on June, 2001 less than five months after giving birth to her first daughter, my grandchild, Sommer Sky," said Ms. Blocker. "Melanie and her husband were so happy, but six weeks after she gave birth, during a routine checkup, she said she felt hopeless and she retreated to her room. Then, as the sun rose over Lake Michigan, my beautiful daughter stepped out of a 12th floor window to her death."

Various witnesses provided expert testimony on the need for more attention paid to new mothers and their overall health during the roughly two hour hearing.

"We need to take postpartum mental health seriously," said Dr. Nada L. Stotland, vice president of the American Psychiatric Association. "If there is any evidence of postpartum difficulties, new mothers should be screened for depression. To achieve this, we need to help educate patients, families, and health professionals about the warning signs that a new mother's "baby blues" may, in fact, be a much more serious condition."

Jerry Reed, Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN USA) commended Rep. Rush for his effort on the Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (H.R. 20). He noted, "Melanie Blocker Stokes completed suicide after a long battle with this most severe form of the mental illness. H.R. 20 would provide immediate attention and resources towards one of the most commonly undiagnosed conditions after childbirth, postpartum depression. These efforts will hopefully lead to a reduction in suicides."

The hearing was chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr, chair of the health subcommittee.

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