Source: US State of Pennsylvania
March 06, 2025 – Pittsburgh, PA
ADVISORY – PITTSBURGH – Shapiro Administration to Emphasize the Need for Postpartum Depression Screenings for All Pennsylvania Mothers
Shapiro Administration officials will join local maternal health leaders at the Allegheny Health Network’s Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health in Pittsburgh to highlight Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal to identify postpartum depression more quickly and discuss the Administration’s efforts to implement universal postpartum depression screenings for all Pennsylvania moms.
Postpartum depression can occur weeks and months after childbirth, where mothers experience extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or their babies.
Postpartum depression affects one in eight moms across the country.
Building on Governor Shapiro’s $5 million investment to study and prevent maternal morbidity and mortality, the Governor’s 2025-2026 budget proposal directs the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to prepare doctors and nurses to identify signs of postpartum depression more quickly and speed up referrals to mental health professionals.
WHO:
Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen
Department of Human Services Special Advisor Sara Goulet
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Deputy Secretary Kelly Primus
AHN West Penn Hospital President Dr. Brian Johnson
AHN Women’s Behavioral Health Medical Director Dr. Ewurama Sackey
UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Chief of Psychiatry and psychiatrist at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Dr. Priya Gopalan
The Alexis Joy Foundation President Steven D’Achille
WHEN:
Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 11:30 AM
WHERE:
AHN West Penn Hospital
4800 Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(First Floor)
PARKING: Event parking can be obtained by contacting Allegheny Health Network’s Senior Public Relations Analyst, Emily Beatty, by emailing emily.beatty@highmarkhealth.org or calling 513-678-9620.
MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP with the name of the reporter and photojournalist to ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov.