Mothers Matter — Closing the Maternal Mental Health Gap: Watch Live

Mental health is an important component of overall health care. Mental health conditions now account for nearly a quarter of maternal deaths in the United States, and one in eight new mothers experience postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). .

Postpartum depression is a health condition that can occur up to a year after giving birth, but most commonly begins 1 to 3 weeks after giving birth. It is often characterized as feelings of intense sadness or anxiety. Mothers may also experience loss of appetite, insomnia, and difficulty bonding with their baby.

Why is postpartum depression so often undiagnosed? How can you prioritize actions to build a better future for mother, baby, and family?

Join us as The Hill brings together government officials, lawmakers, maternal mental health advocates, and medical experts to discuss America’s maternal mental health crisis and possible solutions.

Program segment:

Expanding access (Conversation with The Hill contributing editor Kathleen Koch)

• Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sponsor of the Local Maternity Preparedness Act. Sponsored by TRIUMPH for New Moms Act
• Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), co-sponsor of the Rural Maternity Preparedness Act. NIH IMPROVE Act Cosponsor

Panel: Barriers to postnatal care (Conversation with The Hill race and political reporter Cheyenne M. Daniels)

• stacey brayboySVP – Public Policy and Government Affairs, March of Dimes
• Chandrika BalgovinMedical Director, Inova Women’s Behavioral Health Services
• amy danielsonFounder and Director of the Women’s Mental Health Program, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
• Adrian Griffen, Executive Director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.Founder of Virginia Postpartum Support

Maternal Mental Health Task Force (Conversation with The Hill contributing editor Kathleen Koch)

• david johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Bureau of Community Health Services, Department of Health and Human Services.Member of the White House Task Force on Postpartum Depression

Mother’s experience (Conversation with The Hill race and political reporter Cheyenne M. Daniels)

• Kamisha Battle Jackson, a survivor of perinatal anxiety and depression.Support & Volunteer Manager, Postpartum Support Virginia

Sponsor’s perspective:

• Vanessa ProctorSVP – External Relations, Sage Therapeutics

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Sponsored by:

Sage Therapeutics is on a mission to pioneer solutions that deliver life-changing brain health medicines so everyone can thrive. We believe it is time for a new era in how we think about and treat brain health disorders. It starts with our commitment to maternal mental health and our role in bringing to market the only FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression. Through pioneering science, we aim to address the unmet needs of other brain health disorders, such as essential tremor and cognitive impairments associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases. From research to commercialization, incorporating patient and care partner perspectives into every aspect of our work accelerates our impact. We believe our purpose is personal and has the potential to impact millions of people.