Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder that strikes many women during and after pregnancy. The most extreme form of postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, is characterized by losing touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania.

The causes of postpartum depression are unknown but postpartum depression is treatable if promptly diagnosed by a trained provider and attended to with a personalized regimen of care including social support, therapy, medication, and when necessary hospitalization.

HR 20 seeks to expand and intensify research and related activities on postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis and provide grants to organizations to establish and operate critically needed support services for individuals with this condition and their families. I think HR 20 is an important step in the right direction that is why I am a proud co-sponsor of the bill. By increasing education mothers, husbands, and families, will be able to recognize the symptoms of this condition and help new mothers get the treatment they need and deserve quickly. By increasing funding for research on postpartum conditions, we can begin to unravel the mystery behind this difficult to understand illness.