From my personal perspective, I will say this is a good thing. I thought it was a random call from my insurance company… they were actually screening me during my pregnancy for depression. They got me the help I needed *before* I could develop a postpardum condition. I know of others who were not so lucky and had to suffer longer and more severely. I could give a damn about the impression of fragility if it helps one truly fragile mom.

Alicia, no one is going to force any mother to participate in a screening. However, making it available to every mother, given the freightening statistics of PPD, will surely catch more cases and help to prevent escalating depression and suicide.

Nothing in HCR, by the way, suggests that there will be a mandate on what you must accept vis-a-vis services as a patient.

Why not mandate that hospitals and doctors *offer* screenings, instead of mandating mothers have them? By the way, the screening they gave me was a ten question form, basically asking about my mood. No biggie.

Comments: For those worried about encouraging women to see themselves as more at risk and fragile — are you also worried about the other screenings and evaluations of new mothers – weight, blood pressure, diabetes and the like — encouraging women to see themselves as more at-risk and fragile? And if not, why not?
BTW: The 10 question screen is pretty standard and is likely what would be mandated. Of course a woman could refuse to answer the questions. But I think even getting to read the questions and make that decision would be good for it would give the woman an idea of the red flags regarding this condition.

Phea, what I suggested in my comment is that no one would be *forced* to answer questions. The mandate means that healthcare providers need to offer it, but I was responding to the spirit of the comment that preceded mine which suggested that women have no choice. If a woman says, I don’t want to participate in this questionnaire, that is fine. She will not have her child taken from her.

The mandate is about all practitioners providing the service to address a very real health risk, not forcing it upon people who refuse to participate.

I think those on the right have a perception that with HCR, government is eroding at patient rights, something that is simply untrue.

I believe this should not be driven by our government. This could lead to women being unneccessarily labeled and the treatments could cause more harm than good. If a new mom needs help then her community should help her get the help she needs, be it spiritual, social, nutritional or whatever, but the government does not need to get involved in this, especially considering the huge influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the legislative process, their natural focus on profit first and foremost, and the controversy around the effects of psychiatric drugs on women and their infants (especially when pregnant or breastfeeding). This is a slippery slope.

I suffered from the Baby Blues and didn’t know what was going on with me. I was 19-years old married and had a baby. I slept alot and when I was awake I was so tired. What didn’t help was the fact that my husband at the time was a drug abuser and alcoholic, which there were times I would burst into anger which ended in physical fights with him. I can say that the first year of my daughter’s life was a complete blur. Within 3 years of that time, I had another child and a full time job. I didn’t experience the Baby Blues after that pregnacy but I did begin display mood swings. I wasn’t until I sought medical help about 15 years later and was diagnosed as clinically depressed did I start both the medication and counseling/treatment.