ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 103
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request that certain state agencies address the impacts of maternal depression
and anxiety and implement maternal mental health screenings to facilitate evidence-
based preventative care, early identification, and treatment services.
WHEREAS, maternal depression and anxiety negatively impact public health in the
state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, maternal depression and anxiety encompass a range of symptoms and
mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and, in extreme
cases, psychosis; and
WHEREAS, mental health issues are the most common complication of pregnancy
and childbirth, and when left untreated, maternal mental health disorders can have serious
medical, societal, and economic consequences; and
WHEREAS, at least one in eight new mothers experiences maternal depression and
anxiety; and
WHEREAS, a mother's mental health is directly connected to her physical health and
the health of her baby, born or unborn; and
WHEREAS, maternal depression and anxiety can affect a woman from the early
stages of pregnancy until over one year after the birth of the child; and
WHEREAS, maternal depression and anxiety are common complications of
childbirth, with incidence rates higher than pre-term births, low birth weight babies, and
gestational diabetes; and
WHEREAS, when a mother experiences maternal depression and anxiety, it affects
family well-being and stability; and
WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in some people after they
have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event and as many as eight out of one
hundred women may experience it during pregnancy; and
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WHEREAS, maternal depression and anxiety affect parent-child bonding and lower
rates of breastfeeding; and
WHEREAS, children of affected mothers have an increased risk for serious health,
developmental, or behavioral conditions, which can affect the child's overall well-being and
growth; and
WHEREAS, many mothers feel reluctant to report symptoms or concerns, which has
contributed to the lack of awareness among the public and healthcare providers; and
WHEREAS, there are evidence-based, cost effective screening, detection, and
treatment options that are available for mothers and children, but these options are not
adequately or consistently applied in the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, some neonatal intensive care units have incorporated screening parents
for PTSD into their protocols; and
WHEREAS, adequate funding to support services that track maternal mental health
disorders is needed to support research and treatment initiatives.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize maternal depression and anxiety as a statewide public health issue of concern
which is in need of a resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby see the
need to address maternal mental health disorders at all levels, from individuals and families
to community-wide organizations, systems, and policies within the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the medical community to develop and
utilize evidence-based approaches that do all of the following:
(1)Expand provider training, education, and support, and implement a standard
of care across practices in perinatal and pediatric settings, including those
working with mothers experiencing substance use disorders and those in
emergency room settings.
(2)Expand the obstetric healthcare workforce to include psychiatric specialists.
(3)Screen mothers during each trimester of their pregnancies, at the first
postpartum visit, and at a six-month postpartum obstetrics or primary care
visit.
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(4)Screen parents by pediatric providers at the first, second, third, fourth, and
sixth month well-child visits.
(5)Refer to behavioral healthcare providers, including reproductive psychiatric
specialists when necessary, all pregnant and postpartum women who screen
above the average score on an evidence-based screening tool or who indicate
any suicidal ideation.
(6)Sufficiently reimburse providers for the role they play in the screening,
diagnosis, and treatment process.
(7)Increase public awareness and public education of maternal mental health
disorders.
(8)Expand statewide maternal mental health data collection, monitoring, and
evaluation, and share information across state agencies, nonprofit
organizations, and local authorities through centralized systems.
(9)Increase support for prevention and peer support models, including home
visiting programs, community health workers, and other peer or in-home
support models.
(10)Embed maternal mental health into all statewide crisis response policies.
(11)Expand public and private models for prevention and care.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
all offices and agencies in the state of Louisiana whose responsibilities include working with
new mothers, families, and children, including the Louisiana Department of Health and local
health authorities, to address the short-term and long-term impacts of maternal depression
and anxiety so that evidence-based preventive care, early identification, and treatment
services are available and accessible statewide for all women, and adverse consequences in
children and families can be prevented.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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