how to advocate for perinatal mental health this month
May is Maternal Mental Health Month! In years past, Wild Hope has contributed to the Ohio Perinatal Mental Health Advocacy Day around this time, both in preparing talking points and in participating in meetings with legislators. When the official “Advocacy Day” was canceled this year, we wanted to find a way to still build energy and awareness around this topic.
Join us as we amplify legislation and issues impacting our local community in the areas of maternal mental health, reproductive justice, and gender equality (three things we hold dear as a practice) all month long!
Supports at each stage of the perinatal period (pre-conception, throughout prenatal care, during labor and delivery, and during the postpartum period) can prevent and/or mitigate the escalation of perinatal mental health conditions. This in turn puts less strain on individuals and less emphasis on higher levels of care if conditions escalate, reducing both emotional and financial costs for individuals and our state.
The following bills being considered in Ohio could impact this population. Click the links to learn more about each:
SUPPORT: Ohio SB 352 – This bill would expand behavioral health screening in the perinatal period. Increasing routine, standardized screening is a critical step toward early identification and connection to care.
SUPPORT: Ohio SB 396 - This bill would create a state-funded family and medical leave insurance program.
OPPOSE: Ohio HB 324 (“Patient Protection Act”) – This legislation could create barriers to timely, evidence-based care and limit providers’ ability to respond flexibly to patients’ medical and mental health needs during a particularly vulnerable period.
This month and throughout the legislative session, we will be highlighting these issues and advocating to better support Ohioans in the perinatal period.
Interested in being involved, send your own advocacy letter using our templates below to your representatives.
Templates:
Please note that the templates do not specify district, so double check who your Senators and Representatives are using the contact links above.
Find contact information for state officials: