Did you know that last year the State of Texas enacted legislation, House Bill 341 (also known as the “Andrea Yates Bill) that requires healthcare providers who treat pregnant women to provide them with resource information regarding counseling for postpartum depression and other emotional traumas associated with pregnancy and parenting? I wonder …
* How many other states require similar education?
* How clear and comprehensive is the education Texas is requiring? (I hope it’s not the normal “baby blues brush-off” most women get.)
* How does Texas enforce this?
I think it’s great that Texas has taken this step, and it’s one that deserves attention from state governments across the country.
Tags: postpartum depression Texas
Dear Katherine and Advocates for Postpartum Awareness and Education:
On Election Day I met Michael A.Sarfert, ESQ. who is counsel to Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola of Harrisburg, Pa. I mentioned to him that I was very impressed with an area legislator, Rep. John Payne, and his hands on approach to breast cancer awareness with the production of a brochure that is sent out to area residents. I made mention to him that I wished a brochure were done for postpartum prevention. He promised to look up possible legislation regarding postpartum issues, and the availability of a future brochure. On Friday of the same week I received in the mail a copy of a "House Bill" No. 2246 that was committed to passage on 12/15/03. This house bill states the bill as: "An Act requiring information relating to parenting and prenatal and postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and other emotional trauma counseling to be provided to a pregnant woman; and providing for the powers and duties of the Department of Health." This bill should have included the availability of pre-tests, thyroid/pituitary, but at least it provides some information be given out to every pregnant woman. I intend to check out compliance as well! Perhaps there are other states besides Texas and Pennsylvania that offer the same. The PA bill, # 2246, makes it a requirement that "follow up" and "enforcement" be accomplished on a monthly basis when providing a list of professional organizations that offer prenatal and postpartum depression via the World Wide Web. However, this particular PA bill does not list "Doulas" who are seeing to the care of mothers as much if not more now than mid-wives, etc. I'll bring this up with M. Sarfert in another email to him. If anyone wants a copy of this PA House Bill, #2246, as a start point for one in your particular state, perhaps M. Sarfert can mail you one too. msarfert@pasen.gov "Always A Mother" D.A. Gray
Per usual, there is a negative twist! I received an email from M. Sarfert last evening, after having posted this piece; he apologized for not having told me that this particular bill, #2246, has not yet passed. (Yet they passed a slot machine bill in record time.) He is still checking out the brochure angle and asked me to help develop one if there was not already one available. Of course I said, "yes". I recommended that he offer up The New Mother Syndrome research book as a back-up to getting House Bill #2246 passed sooner. I'll keep you informed as we go. A copy of this bill can still be requested as a sample of one to be done in any particular state. Just remember to have include "doulas" and "postpartum doulas" in your version of the writing. Thanks for your patience. "AAM"