Senator Hassan Applauds New Maternal Mental Health Recommendations from Task Force Created by Her Bipartisan Law

Senator Hassan to Join Bipartisan Maternal Mental Health Event on Thursday

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services task force today released recommendations to improve maternal mental health, as required by a bipartisan law introduced by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, co-led by the Office on Women’s Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced the National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care. In 2022, Senator Maggie Hassan and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) passed into law the bipartisan TRIUMPH for New Moms Act that required the creation of this task force and strategy.

“Across the country, mothers have been raising alarm bells about inadequate maternal health care including maternal mental health care,” said Senator Hassan. “I worked to pass into law the bipartisan TRIUMPH for New Moms Act to develop a strategy to improve care for new moms struggling with postpartum depression, addiction, or other mental health challenges. I am glad to see this new report outline concrete steps that can break down stigma and help get mothers the mental health care that they need, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to support maternal health.”  

The National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care is available here, and it outlines recommendations and best practices to help provide mental health care, including addiction treatment, to expecting mothers.

Senator Hassan has led efforts to ensure that new and expecting mothers have access to high-quality health care. Senator Hassan recently introduced bipartisan legislation to support rural health care facilities in providing urgent obstetric care. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra highlighted efforts to expand access to rural maternity care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. Last year, Senator Hassan and the New Hampshire Congressional delegation announced nearly $1 million in federal funding for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center to strengthen maternal health care in the North Country. Senators Hassan and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) also previously introduced the Healthy Moms and Babies Act to strengthen health care for women before, after, and during childbirth. 

###