WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve maternal mental health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients, including working to address postpartum depression and anxiety, and maternal suicide – which is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States.
“We need to remove the stigma attached to mental health, especially for new moms who are battling with postpartum depression,” said Senator Tillis. “We must support mothers and streamline suicide prevention and mental health treatment services, and this legislation does just that. I am proud to work with Senator Hassan on this important bipartisan legislation to provide resources to mothers across North Carolina and the rest of the country.”
“Mothers too often face immense mental health challenges before and after giving birth, and new moms need more support to help them manage and overcome these health concerns,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill would take long overdue steps to coordinate a federal response to address postpartum depression and anxiety, as well as the devastating rate of maternal suicides. I will continue to work with Senator Tillis and my colleagues across the aisle to get pregnant and postpartum mothers the resources that they need take care of themselves and their babies.”
Shalini Wickramatilake, Director of Public Policy for 2020 Mom, said, “The TRIUMPH Act will not only improve efficiency at the federal level, but also at the individual level, ensuring that moms receive mental health services that are effective and efficient.” Wickramatilake added, “2020 Mom is proud to be partnering with lawmakers on this important piece of legislation. We applaud Senators Hassan and Tillis for their leadership and commitment to ensuring that moms receive the care that they need.”
The Taskforce Recommending Improvements for Unaddressed Mental Perinatal & Postpartum Health (TRIUMPH) for New Moms Act of 2021 would create a federal taskforce and national strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes and expand mental health resources for new mothers by directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work with states to increase mental health prevention and treatment services for new and expectant moms, as well as identify and report on best practices to better support new mothers with mental health challenges.
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