S. 324 would provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.
Detailed Summary
Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom's Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act or the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act - Encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue: (1) activities on postpartum depression; and (2) research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy in various ways.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and their families. Directs the Secretary to ensure that such projects provide education and services with respect to the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. Authorizes such projects to include: (1) delivering or enhancing outpatient home-based health and support services; and (2) providing education to new mothers and their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. Sets forth grant requirements.
Directs the Secretary to study the benefits of screening for postpartum conditions.
Prohibits the Secretary from utilizing amounts appropriated under this Act to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are already being carried out through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 1/26/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Leonard Henderson
April 3, 2009, 2:48pm (report abuse)This bill is a shameless promotion for Pharmaceutical company profits.
Does it strike anybody as strange it is named for a lady who committed suicide probably BECAUSE of the drugs?
See http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/blogsection/ and http://www.drugawareness.org/
American Family Rights Association vehemently opposes this bill.
American Family Rights Association
http://familyrights.us
"Until Every Child Comes Home" ©
"The Voice of America's Families" ©
Jennifer Foster
April 9, 2009, 12:26pm (report abuse)Absolutely should not pass, these drugs are dangerous to both mother and infants, the effects are unknown long term. Way too dangerous to be used by anyone with too many side effects that are worse than the symptoms of the original problem were in the first place. No way, no how, not ever, throw this bill into a giant shredder where it belongs.
JOHNNY AYCOCK
April 12, 2009, 12:21pm (report abuse)I NEED HELP MYSELF.IM LOOKING FOR MY 2 BOY.DSS TOOK THEM AWAY FROM MY X-WIFE.AND TOOK THEM STREIGHT TO FOSTER CARE. 4 MONTHS LATER ONE WAS ADOPED.BUT I NO HIS NAME JOSHEW W AYCOCK.NOW ITS JOSHEW W MCKINNEY.17 YRS OLD.ITS BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN HIM.MATHEW J AYCOCK. IS MY OTHER BABYS NAME HE'S 15 NOW 10 YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN HIM.GOERGE AND BETTSY WOMBEL OF HINESTUNE LA. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND MY BOYS I PRAY FOR THEY'ER SAFETY EVERY NIGHT.I WANT THEM TO COME HOME.THEY'ER GRANDMOW IS 84 AND SHE PRAYS FOR THEM NIGHTLY.PLEASE HELP US.ARE TELL ME HOW.CONTACT ME AT.ddsaints@yahoo.com
Shannon W.
April 12, 2009, 11:17pm (report abuse)Does anyone know if this would be a mandated, non-optional program? Would they require every parent to be evaluated? I didn't read an indication of which it would be . . . I can't imagine having a social worker dictate whether I could take my baby home. It would be totally arbitrary then, wouldn't it?
I agree--anti-depressants seem to be a dumb requirement here. Fresh air, people helping out with baby, getting out to exercise--that sounds better. This bill doesn't sound good to me.
Susan F.
April 13, 2009, 10:04am (report abuse)Absolutely NOT. The government is slowly micromanaging every aspect of our lives. This crap sounds like pimping babies out to abusive foster homes for the sake of the almighty dollar & to hell with the birth parents!
Leonard Henderson
April 13, 2009, 10:34pm (report abuse)See-
BRANDING PREGNANCY AS MENTAL ILLNESS
By Byron J. Richards, CCN
March 13, 2008
NewsWithViews.com
http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron51.htm
Leonard Henderson
April 13, 2009, 10:37pm (report abuse)See-
Mothers Act Fuels Multibillion Dollar Industry
Part 1 of 3
April 7, 2009. By Evelyn Pringle
lawyersandsettlements.com
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/features/mothers-act-multibillion-dollar-industry-1.html
Mothers Act Fuels Multibillion Dollar Industry
Part 2 of 3
April 10, 2009. By Evelyn Pringle
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/features/mothers-act-multibillion-dollar-industry-2.html
Daniel Burdick
May 22, 2009, 3:27pm (report abuse)The Brave New World OF COERCED DRUGGING David W. Tanton
Stress Testing the MOTHERS Act
Kelly Patricia O'Meara
Importantly missing from the drug-company-spun version of AMA Medicine, so visible here, is "Good Fats, Bad Fats." People need around a 1:3 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fats in their diet. www.annecollins.com/dietary-fat/omega-3-fat-efas.htm
Relatedly, there is an epidemic of magnesium deficiency.
How Many Americans Are Magnesium Deficient? by Paul Mason www.mgwater.com
For the body to convert the Omega 3 fat, linoleic acid LA, into the more complex EPA and DHA used in the baby and mother's nervous system, an enzyme, D6D, needs Vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc.
www.livehealthytoday.org/pages/omega-fattyacids.php
Antioxidants are needed to protect these high quality fats. Zinc is also important for the nervous system.
Diets With High Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratios Enhance Risk for Depression, Inflammatory Disease
http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/555736?rss
BPaul
February 10, 2010, 4:29pm (report abuse)I think these opinions are either ill informed or knee-jerk reactions. Perhaps reading the bill should be a requirement to post an opinion about it.