Over 100 Advocates, 30 States, Represented on Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day
On March 13, 2024, over 100 advocates from across the country came together to advocate for maternal mental health.
Since 2015, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) has organized an annual Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day to educate Congress about maternal mental health and to request funding for critical programs and resources that support moms, birthing people, and their families.
Our advocacy requests to Congress include funding the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at $10 million and the Screening and Treatment for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Program at $24 million for fiscal year 2025 and co-sponsoring the Maintaining Our Obligation to Mothers Who Serve (MOMS) Act (H.R.7087 / S.3641).
This year’s Advocacy Day was organized in partnership with Postpartum Support International and Mocha Moms Inc., to whom we are grateful for helping to make this event such an impactful day.
Read our 2024 Advocacy Agenda
By the Numbers
120 advocates representing 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico rallied together for maternal mental health, accomplishing 118 meetings with Congressional offices.
The Massachusetts / Rhode Island team snapped a photo after one of their virtual Congressional meetings during Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day on March 13, 2024.
We asked advocates how they felt at the end of Advocacy Day…
“Fired up! I was so impressed and moved by how much my fellow moms had been through, and that they had turned their struggles into action.”
Jessie Colbert
Founder and Executive Director, Mass PPD Fund
“Empowered and grateful to share my story publicly for the first time in order to advocate on behalf of others whose voices remain unheard.”
Natasha Fahlgren
Consortium Manager, Healthy Start Enhanced - San Bernadino
“It was great to be able to be part of bills being supported and passed advancing maternal mental health resources.”
Adriana Reyes de Merkle
MSW, LCSW Candidate, Lead Advocate Board Member for PSI-MT, Expecting first-time mom
“Great experience. I feel very proud to be involved!”
Joan Stefka
BS Health Science, Will County Health Department Well-Woman Program
“On top of the world!”
Ambar Rivera Castillo
CD/PCD(DONA), LCCE, CLC, CLE, SBD
Advocacy Continues in May in honor of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month!
New MMHLA Webinar
3 Ways to Advocate in May: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
April 16, 2024 | 12-1pm ET
Learn How To:
Participate in awareness-building social media campaigns
Send letters or emails to elected officials
Write op-ed pieces or letters to the editors of local newspapers
May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and provides additional opportunities for advocacy, mainly focused on raising public awareness. Advocates and organizations both in the U.S. and around the world are getting organized for additional outreach and education about maternal mental health conditions. We are hosting a webinar on April 16 to share information about these advocacy opportunities.
Join our upcoming webinar to learn how to:
Participate in awareness-building social media campaigns
Send letters or emails to elected officials
Write op-ed pieces or letters to the editor of local newspapers
Speakers will discuss events and activities including:
Follow-up activities from MMHLA’s Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day
