Perinatal (during pregnancy and up to a year after birth) Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) impact at least 20% of moms, but are widely underdiagnosed and untreated, leaving moms and other parents to suffer in silence. BIPOC and low-income mothers are both more likely to experience PMADs and less likely to receive care.

The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition is working hard on a key solution: the Moms Matter Act. This bill would expand and diversify the perinatal mental health workforce and invest in community-based programs that support the mental health and well-being of birthing people and other new parents.

Key provisions of the Moms Matter Act are in front of the Massachusetts House THIS THURSDAY as part of a groundbreaking maternal health omnibus bill put forward by Public Health Chair Marjorie Decker and others.

It's time to ACT NOW for maternal health and mental health in Massachusetts! Join us in writing to your State Rep. and asking them to sign on to Amendment 19 to the maternal health bill TODAY!

Thank you so much for taking the time to make your voice heard!

--The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Steering Committee

Jessie Colbert, Executive Director, Mass. PPD Fund
Stephanie Crawford, M.Ed, Founder, Propa City Community Outreach
Ashley C. Healy, Esq.

Amanda Hollis Garaffo, Esq.
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Founder, Rise Leadership and Coaching, LLC, Leadership Team, Women of
Color Health Equity Collective
Kerry McCarthy, Cape & Islands Perinatal Wellness Alliance
Jessica Paulino, The EMA Project
Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, MSN, MPH, FACM, PhD, Nurse Coordinator, Bridges to Moms, Board Member, Bay State Birth
Chloe Schwartz, MPH, Director, Maternal Infant Health, March of Dimes Boston/New England Market
Gwendolyn Van Baalen, LMHC, MT-BC, CEIS
Tiffany Vassell, RN, Founder, Nurses for Black Maternal Health and Equity Organization, Neighborhood Birth Center