WHEREAS, the health and safety of all Virginians is important to the happiness, well-being, and prosperity of our Commonwealth’s families and communities; and

WHEREAS, up to 80 percent of new mothers experience changes in their emotional health following childbirth, regardless of race, age, culture, or socioeconomic status; and, one in five pregnant women and new mothers experience moderate to severe symptoms, collectively known as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), with effects that can be long-lasting without proper support and treatment; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, there were 94,443 babies born in Virginia, and more than 18,500 mothers in the Commonwealth struggled with moderate to severe PMADs; and

WHEREAS, Black and Hispanic women are at greater risk for PMADs, with 40 percent of Hispanic women and Black women experiencing a PMAD, contributing to increased disparities in maternal health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, symptoms of PMADs can appear any time during pregnancy and through the first 12 months after childbirth and are the most common complication of childbirth, impacting the mother, child, father, and entire family unit; and 

WHEREAS, research has shown that untreated PMADs during pregnancy or postpartum can lead to negative outcomes in infants, including low birth weight, prematurity, developmental and cognitive delays, and poor mother-infant attachment and bonding; and

WHEREAS, untreated PMADs are associated with negative maternal health outcomes, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, poor nutrition, and reduced medical care engagement, while also increasing the risk of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, which are leading causes of maternal mortality; and

WHEREAS, the co-occurrence of mental health disorders and substance use disorders is common among pregnant and postpartum women; and, children of parents with substance use disorders are at higher risk for early substance use, mental health disorders, and other adverse outcomes; and

WHEREAS, effective treatment of substance use disorders during the perinatal period can decrease the rates of miscarriage, birth defects, stillbirth, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, while integrated treatment models that address both PMADs and substance use disorders enhance access to effective treatment for mothers; and

WHEREAS, our Right Help, Right Now initiative launched in 2022 ensures all Virginians receive immediate behavioral health support before, during, and after crisis, and that parents struggling with substance use disorders can access treatment more easily and be supported in their recovery to provide a stable home for their children to thrive; and

 WHEREAS, increasing public awareness among all Virginia health care providers and families on the prevalence, identification, and treatment of PMADs and co-occurring substance use disorders has significant potential to save lives and prevent the unnecessary suffering experienced by many mothers and families during pregnancy or following childbirth; and 

WHEREAS, Virginia’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Families, and Healthy Communities initiative builds upon the ongoing efforts to strengthen maternal health by improving maternal health data, expanding high-quality care, and increasing awareness to ensure the safety and well-being of mothers across Virginia; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 2025, as MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.