75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 2063
 
                    House Joint Resolution 15
 
Sponsored by Representative TOMEI; Representatives BERGER,
  GREENLICK, KOTEK, MAURER
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Recognizes March 2009 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
and encourages Early Childhood Council, health care providers,
would-be parents and other stakeholders to address mental health
needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
 
                        JOINT RESOLUTION
  Whereas maternal mental health directly affects women, infants
and children and must be seen as a primary concern for the health
and safety of families; and
  Whereas pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, which include
depression, anxiety, mania and psychosis are pervasive but
treatable illnesses and occur in approximately one out of eight
of all pregnant and postpartum women; and
  Whereas research has shown that untreated maternal depression
and anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum negatively affects
birth outcomes and infant development, including infant mental
health and brain development; and
  Whereas maternal risk factors for the development of perinatal
mood disorders can be reliably identified, assessed and treated
by health care providers and public health systems; and
  Whereas families can be informed of the importance of mental
health during pregnancy and postpartum and can be given
information that will empower them to take preventive measures;
and
  Whereas reliable, evidence-based methods for culturally
competent risk evaluation, screening and treatment have been
developed and could be adopted in Oregon; and
  Whereas provider education and public awareness regarding
maternal mental health is a public health priority; and
  Whereas accessible local, state and federal resources for
screening, assessment, referral and treatment need to be
available to all childbearing families and their health care
providers throughout the State of Oregon; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  That we, the members of the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly:
  (1) Recognize the month of March 2009 as Maternal Mental Health
Awareness Month;
  (2) Encourage the Early Childhood Council to address perinatal
mental health as a public health priority; and
  (3) Encourage health care providers, would-be parents and other
stakeholders to collaborate in the development of a statewide
care network for perinatal mental health and to increase
awareness and understanding of the mental health needs of
pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
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