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House passes SCR 11 promoting awareness and screening for maternal depression and anxiety
Summary
The Utah House unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 recognizing maternal depression and anxiety and encouraging increased screening, education and provider training; several members offered personal or clinical testimony about the condition’s severity and potential effects on child development.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, presented on the House floor by Representative Chavez-Houck, recognizes the prevalence and seriousness of postpartum depression and other peripartum anxiety disorders and urges increased training, screening and treatment coordination among state and local health providers and nonprofits.
Representative Chavez-Houck told colleagues the resolution aims to increase awareness and encourage medical and nonprofit partners to improve screening and intervention. Representative Red, who identified professional experience as a physician, urged the House to support the resolution and described how severe postpartum depression can lead some mothers to contemplate suicide or infanticide and to have persistent intrusive thoughts that impair bonding and early child development. "I just really commend the sponsors of this resolution for bringing it forward and helping us as a legislative body face that," Representative Red said.
Representative Chavez-Houck thanked the Emily Effect and the Utah Maternal Mental Health Collaboration for their work and asked for the body’s support. The House voted to pass SCR 11 by recorded voice and returned it to the Senate for signature.
Ending: The resolution passed the House without recorded opposition and will proceed to the Senate for completion of the legislative process.
