SLS 24RS-2683 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 75
BY SENATOR MCMATH
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH. Recognizes May 1, 2024, as Maternal Mental Health
Awareness Day in Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To designate Wednesday May 1, 2024, as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day in the
3 state of Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, the United States Health and Human Services Department, Office on
5 Women's Health reports that one in eight women experience postpartum depression in the
6 year following birth; and
7 WHEREAS, death by suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality and accounts
8 for approximately 20% of postpartum deaths; and
9 WHEREAS, the majority of these types of deaths are preventable; and
10 WHEREAS, maternal death results in negative family and economic impacts to
11 families and the state of Louisiana; and
12 WHEREAS, in 2023, 12% of women in Louisiana reported experiencing postpartum
13 depression after giving birth; and
14 WHEREAS, approximately 75% of women experiencing maternal mental health
15 conditions such as perinatal and postpartum depression, anxiety, and birth-related PTSD, go
16 undiagnosed and untreated; and
17 WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks 46th for maternal mortality and has consistently been
18 ranked in the top five states for maternal mortality; and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 75
SLS 24RS-2683 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Woman's Hospital is opening a perinatal mental health unit in
2 September 2024, which will be only one of four in the United States and the only one in
3 Louisiana; and
4 WHEREAS, this unit will serve women throughout their pregnancy and up to one
5 year postpartum, providing women in Louisiana with critical health services; and
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
7 does hereby designate Wednesday, May 1, 2024 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day
8 in the state of Louisiana and does hereby recognize the commitment of Woman's Hospital
9 to provide mental health services to pregnant and postpartum women in Louisiana.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11 chief executive officer of Woman's Hospital.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Amanda Trapp.
DIGEST
SR 75 Original 2024 Regular Session McMath
Recognizes Wednesday, May 1, 2024, as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day in
Louisiana.
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