Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for promoting health and preventing disease in the United States. The US Department of Health & Human Services is currently working on the Healthy People objectives for 2020.

Currently, there is not one single current objective in Healthy People 2020 about postpartum depression. Yes. You heard me right.

Nowhere in the Maternal, Infant & Child Health section are there any objectives listed that focus on postpartum depression and related illnesses. There is one objective about reducing thenumber of maternal illnesses and complications that arise from pregnancy and a few commenters (including me) have asked that PPD be included in the list of complications.

Nowhere in the Mental Health & Mental Disorders section are there any objectives stated that focus on postpartum depression and related illnesses. There is one objective to increase the number of general mental health screenings given to adults and several members of the public (including me)have commented the need to specifically screen for PPD.

We can fix this by adding more voices. You need to add yours. Through December 31 of this year, you can send in your comments on Healthy People 2020. You don't even have to register if you don't want to — you can add your comment anonymously.

People who care about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders may wish to add their comments or suggestions here, here and here. You can comment on current objectives or suggest new ones.

Let's make sure that Health and Human Services hears our voices!