[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2841-S2842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 450. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
research on, and services for individuals

[[Page S2842]]

with, postpartum depression and psychosis; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Melanie 
Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act along with Senator 
Fitzgerald and Senator Clinton.
  My legislation is named after a Chicago native who struggled 
unsuccessfully against postpartum psychosis following the birth of her 
daughter. While fighting this debilitating mental condition Ms. Stokes 
has been in and out of hospitals several times, stopped eating and 
drinking, and wouldn't swallow pills. Despite medical assistance and 
the support of her family and friends, Mrs. Stokes was ultimately 
unable to overcome her condition, and jumped to her death from a 12-
story window ledge.
  Studies indicate that 50 to 75 percent of all new mothers experience 
the ``baby blues,'' a feeling of moderate emotional distress following 
childbirth. Serious postpartum depression on the other hand, affects 
between 10 and 20 percent of women. In Illinois alone there are at 
least 180,000 births a year. Even using the conservative estimate that 
10 percent of mothers will suffer from postpartum depression, this 
suggests that over 18,000 women, in the State of Illinois alone will 
experience the devastating symptoms of this disorder each year. Women 
suffering from serious postpartum depression may worry excessively or 
find themselves exhausted. They may experience sadness, feelings of 
guilt, apathy, phobias, or sleep problems sometimes for as long as 3 to 
14 months. Understanding this disorder more fully and developing new 
treatments should be a top priority.
  The most severe form of mental illness that can affect women 
following childbirth is postpartum psychosis. Although this condition 
is more difficult to recognize since it occurs less frequently than 
postpartum depression, the consequences of allowing postpartum 
psychosis to go untreated are serious. Postpartum psychosis is 
characterized by hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoia, severe 
insomnia, extreme anxiety and depression and women suffering from the 
disorder are at increased risk for suicide or harming others.
  Even though many new mothers will experience some form of postpartum 
depression or the ``baby blues,'' few research studies are carefully 
examining the causes of this mental condition at present. In addition, 
there is currently no standard treatment for women suffering from 
postpartum depression. The Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression 
Research and Care Act would develop a coordinated approach for 
understanding and treating this devastating illness.
  Specifically, my legislation authorizes the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to organize a series of national meetings that focus on 
developing a consensus research and treatment plan for postpartum 
depression and psychosis. The Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression 
Research and Care Act also encourages the Secretary to implement the 
consensus research and treatment plan generated via the national meting 
series in a timely fashion. Finally, the bill makes grant funding 
available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration to aid in the delivery of treatment services for 
postpartum depression to women and their families.
  I am pleased that Senator Fitzgerald and Senator Clinton have joined 
me in introducing this important legislation. Congressman Rush has 
taken the lead in the House of Representatives. I am anxious to work in 
a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to coordinate our approach toward 
understanding postpartum depression by passing this legislation in 
remembrance of Melanie Stokes and all the women who have suffered from 
postpartum depression and psychosis.
                                 ______