DE SCR148

Designates May 1, 2024, as "Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day" in Delaware to raise awareness about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMDs) affecting pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Acknowledges that PMDs impact 20% of women and are the most common complication of childbirth, with symptoms including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and difficulty bonding with infants.

Notes that mental health issues are contributory in 46% of Delaware's pregnancy-associated deaths and that 43% of fetal and infant mortality review mothers have a history of mental illness.

Identifies disparities in maternal mental health access and outcomes, particularly for Black women, Indigenous women, and Latinas, citing barriers including lack of insurance coverage, cultural stigma, and inadequate leave policies.

Calls on Delaware to prioritize parental mental health through expanded awareness, increased mental health provider availability, and removal of social and economic barriers to treatment.