Assembly Resolution No. 450

BY: M. of A. Joyner

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 2023, as Maternal Depression Awareness Month in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to help increase
awareness of serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens
of New York State; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2023, as Maternal Depression
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, According to the New York State Department of Health and
Office of Mental Health, there are four recognized types of maternal
depression: prenatal depression, "baby blues," postpartum depression and
postpartum psychosis; and

WHEREAS, Although all types have similar symptoms, the prevalence
rates, some symptoms and time frame of the depressions differ; some
studies also explore postpartum major depression, which is similar to
major depression except after pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, For example, "baby blues" is the least severe, and usually
lasts about two weeks maximum after delivery; it is the most common, and
as many as 80 percent of new mothers suffer from "baby blues"; and

WHEREAS, Some symptoms include exhaustion, crying, sleep problems,
anxiety and mood fluctuations; and

WHEREAS, Postpartum depression (PPD) is becoming more well-known,
and it affects 10 to 20 percent of new mothers; and

WHEREAS, Symptoms must last more than two weeks to be considered PPD
and not just "baby blues"; and

WHEREAS, There are also more symptoms associated with PPD, such as
feeling inadequate or guilty, feeling sad constantly, feeling suicidal,
not attaching or bonding to the baby, overly worrying about the baby or
not being interested at all in the baby; and

WHEREAS, Information obtained from the New York State Department of
Health indicates that 10-20% of new mothers suffer from maternal
depression, including periods of sadness, anxiety, fatigue and thoughts
of death or suicide; and

WHEREAS, For more than 1 out of every 1,000 new mothers, the
maternal depression they experience, also known as postpartum psychosis,
can lead to hallucinations and mania; and

WHEREAS, Maternal depression is believed to have contributed to the
deaths of three infants who were allegedly killed by their mothers in
separate incidents that took place in New York City in the late summer
and early fall of 2015; and


WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2023, as Maternal
Depression Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.