To ensure that hearings are scheduled on H.R. 846 - Melanie Stokes Pospartum Depression Research Care Act?
Please feel free to use our letter to Congressman Bilirakis below!
Legislative Alert
Congressman Bobby Rush (D) Illinois authored a bill, H.R. 846 that provides for research on and services for individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis. The bill was named for Chicago-native Mrs. Melanie Blocker who after the birth of her first child began to suffer from the mood disorder known as postpartum psychosis. Despite a valiant fight against the disorder, Melanie jumped to her death from a 12-story window ledge four months later.
Sixty to 80% of women who have recently given birth experience symptoms of postpartum blues. Postpartum depression, which is more serious than postpartum blues, afflicts up to 20% of new mothers, with symptoms such as despondency, tearfulness, intense feelings of inadequacy, guilt and fatigue. Postpartum psychosis, which is more extreme, is found in less than 1% of all new mothers. It has symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, hyperactivity and delusions.
H.R. 846 helps to address this problem. The bill has two major provisions.
ACTION NEEDED:
CALL or WRITE
Congressman Mike Bilirakis (R) Florida, Chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee. 2269 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-5755
Tell the Congressman:
For more information, please call the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition at 312-491-8161.
A Letter to Congressman Bilirakis
If you are moved to send Congressman Bilirakis a letter in support of the Melanie Stokes bill. Please feel free to copy and paste the following letter onto a document on your computer for use as a basis for your letter of support! Thank you!
Congressman Mike Bilirakis
Chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee
2269 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Bilirakis
I am writing you today to urge your support of H.R 846 – the Melanie Stokes
Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act and respectfully request that
hearings on this bill be scheduled immediately. Sixty to 80% of new mothers
experience symptoms of postpartum blues while the more serious condition
postpartum depression affects up to 20% of women who have recently given birth.
The most extreme form, postpartum psychosis, is exhibited in about 1% of all new
mothers. At what should be the happiest time in a woman’s life these mood
disorders result in feelings of despondency, tearfulness, intense feelings of
inadequacy, guilt, and fatigue. In the worst case scenario, if left untreated or
not treated properly, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis has
resulted in suicide and infanticide.
Postpartum depression can affect any new mother. Although there are factors that
place some women at higher risk than others to suffer from this illness, it hits
all types of women regardless of age, intelligence, stability, education or
income level.
H.R. 846 helps to address these problems by providing for the expansion and
intensification of research into postpartum depression and psychosis at the
National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health. It
also seeks to provide grants for the delivery of essential services and support
to women suffering from postpartum depression/psychosis and their families.
Many of us have been touched by postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis.
We have either experienced this ourselves, know someone who has, or have lost a
loved one to it as Melanie Stokes’ mother did.
By writing to you today I am asking for your support of H.R 846 – the Melanie
Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act and request that hearings for
this very important bill be scheduled immediately.
Sincerely,
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