April 30, 2026
Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. McCormick, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Recognizing Maternal Mental Health Day to raise awareness about maternal mental health.
Whereas the first Wednesday of May, May 6 of 2026, marks Maternal Mental Health Day;
Whereas maternal mental health is foundational to strong and thriving families and children, and the family is the fundamental building block of society;
Whereas maternal mental health disorders are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbearing, yet far too often, these disorders go unrecognized, undiagnosed, and untreated, leaving women and families to suffer alone;
Whereas approximately 85 percent of new mothers experience baby blues,
and 1 in 5 new mothers are impacted by maternal mental health conditions, affecting 800,000 families in the United States each year;
Whereas untreated maternal mental health disorders have been linked to adverse birth outcomes, including premature and low birth weight babies, impaired maternal-infant bonding and parenting activities, impaired cognitive development in children, and increased risk of emotional and mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and attention deficit disorder in children;
Whereas maternal mental health conditions, including psychiatric and substance use disorders, are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, with 23 percent of deaths tied to suicide or overdose;
Whereas multiple factors increase a mother’s risk of maternal mental health conditions, including a personal or family history of depression, complications during pregnancy, and partner or financial stress;
Whereas, while some research has been conducted to begin understanding the risk factors that place some women at higher risk for these disorders than others, additional research and innovation in new technologies is needed to pinpoint mental health disorders more quickly;
Whereas rural and low-income mothers who face economic instability are at greater risk of a maternal mental health condition; and
Whereas, on Maternal Mental Health Day, communities raise awareness of the maternal mental health conditions that, despite recent efforts, continue to take a heavy toll on parents and children and highlight steps to support the well-being of America’s mothers and families: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day, including—
(1)
raising awareness among pregnant and postpartum women and their families, the providers who care for them, and the public of the risk factors, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for maternal mental health conditions;
(2)
honoring mothers for the invaluable role they play in society and acknowledging the difficulties maternal mental health conditions create for mothers and their families;
(3)
recognizing that maternal mental health disorders and maternal suicide are serious public health problems; and
(4)
encouraging research on safe and effective treatments for pregnant and postpartum women, dissemination of updated data on evidence-based treatments to the medical community and the public, and provider training on the treatment of maternal mental health disorders.