MENTAL HEALTH

Utah lawmakers push legislation for maternal mental health

Feb 9, 2023, 1:00 PM | Updated: 4:17 pm

As proclaimed by Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah recognizes February as Maternal Mental Health Month. And as...

Rep. Rosemary Lesser, D-Ogden, left, and Rep. Ashlee Matthews, D-Salt Lake, attend a gathering where February was declared Maternal Mental Health Month at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. HB84 and HB85, sponsored by Lesser, are bills she believes will benefit new mothers. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)

(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — As proclaimed by Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah recognizes February as Maternal Mental Health Month. And as such, Utah lawmakers are pushing to expand legislation related to maternal health.

The advocacy group Maternal Mental Health Policy Committee is hosting an annual press conference to shed light on resources and raise awareness about the legislation surrounding paternity. 

Related: Postpartum depression or anxiety impacts 43% of Utah moms study says

Specifically, organization co-chair Heather Dopp wants to open up the discussion about the 60-day postpartum period covered by Medicaid. 

Dopp said two months isn’t enough time for some mothers to even realize they are going through a mental crisis.

Rep. Rosemary Lessers, D-Ogden, a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee, will speak at the conference about H.B. 84, the bill she has sponsored that extends the current 60-day period to 12 months. 

Related: In Utah, more women are likely to attempt suicide than men

Exposure to resources, Dopp said, as well as more overall knowledge about maternal mental health can help mothers feel more comfortable receiving screenings.

“Half the battle is getting women screened in the first place,” she said. 

Mothers without Medicaid may have a severe postpartum diagnosis that could go untreated due to lack of health care. Dopp said this further warrants an extension of the 60-day period. 

“For us, the whole goal is awareness and decreasing stigma,” said Dopp. “I’ve had meetings with lawmakers … where we discuss issues like postpartum depression and almost always they’ll say ‘oh I know someone who has gone through that.'”

Additionally, the conference will also provide information about HB. 415, backed by Rep. Ashlee Mathews, D-Salt Lake City that includes coverage of doula services. And mothers surviving postpartum depression will speak about their experience. 

Listen to KSL NewsRadio’s coverage of the Maternal Mental Health Policy Committee’s annual press conference. Live now! 

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Mental Health

are you doom spending?...

Curt Gresseth

Are you ‘doom spending’?

What is doom spending? A KSL NewsRadio producer describes her experience with — and motivation for — reckless buying.

10 hours ago

emergency savings account...

Curt Gresseth

Should employers match an emergency-savings account for employees?

A Utah financial planner outlines a new law allowing an emergency-savings account, with a matching employer contribution.

3 days ago

(Canva)...

Michelle Lee

Guide to therapy and navigating the holidays

Let's Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Melissa Spaulding to learn about therapy.

13 days ago

People with certain mental health problems are more at risk for experiencing the dangers of the cli...

Kristen Rogers, CNN

As Earth’s temperature rises, so do deaths among people with mental health problems

As the climate crisis gets worse, we know of farmers whose crops are drying up and people who lose their homes due to rampant wildfires.

14 days ago

(Canva)...

Michelle Lee

How to adjust to daylight saving time

Let’s Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Dr. Andrew Namen to learn how we can train our body to adjust to daylight saving time.

19 days ago

(CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpf...

Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN

Seasonal affective disorder doesn’t mean you have to be SAD. Here are 6 ways to fight the blues

Seasonal affective disorder isn’t just about being sad in winter. It’s a type of depression that has to do with the lack of sunlight in late fall.

20 days ago

Sponsored Articles

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Human hand holding a protest banner stop vaping message over a crowded street background....

Prosperous Utah Communities

Utah’s Battle to Protect Youth from Vaping Epidemic Faces New Threat as Proposed Rule Threatens Progress

Utah's strict standards of nicotine levels in vaping products are at risk, increasing health hazards associated with use. Read more about how you can advocate for a better future for Utah's youth.

Aerial photo of Bear Lake shoreline with canopies and people camped out on the beach...

Visit Bear Lake

Last-Minute Summer Vacation Planning? Check Out Bear Lake!

Bear Lake is the perfect getaway if you are last-minute summer vacation planning. Enjoy activities with your whole family at this iconic lake.

Utah lawmakers push legislation for maternal mental health