SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
(By Senators Walker, Craigo, Hunter,
Prezioso, Sharpe, Snyder, Boley, McCabe, Plymale, Minear,
Ross, Unger, Helmick, Fanning, Edgell, Kessler, Jackson, Ball,
Dawson, McKenzie, Oliverio, Love, Sprouse, Redd, Mitchell,
Dittmar, Wooton and Tomblin, Mr. President)
Expressing the sense of the Legislature concerning the serious
health problem of postpartum depression and requesting that
certain actions be taken to increase public awareness of the
issue and to take steps to improve recognition and treatment
of this debilitating condition.
Whereas, The Health Oversight Subcommittee on Postpartum
Depression during the 1999 interim period studied the medical
condition that affects many new mothers known as postpartum
depression, a serious medical condition resulting from the
chemical imbalance which is triggered by the abrupt and dramatic
drop in a woman's hormonal production following the birth of a
baby; and
Whereas, The Subcommittee learned that, in its milder form, postpartum depression can result in periods of "baby blues", but
in its most serious form, postpartum psychosis, the condition can
lead to the mother's suicide, attempted suicide or even murder of
the child, known as infanticide; and
Whereas, The Subcommittee learned that many new mothers, as
well as fathers, other family members, health care workers and
the public at-large, have little knowledge of or appreciation for
the seriousness of this condition, its potential consequences or
its treatment; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That, henceforth, there shall be an annual Postpartum
Depression Awareness Day during each regular legislative session;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Health and Human
Resources, through its Bureau for Public Health, should provide
to all hospitals, health maintenance organizations, clinics,
primary care and community centers, behavioral health centers,
obstetrician and gynecologist offices, birthing centers and
pediatrician offices complete and understandable information
about postpartum depression, its symptoms, its treatment and its
prevention.