Bill Text: NJ AJR239 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-11-24 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee [AJR239 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR239-Introduced.html
No. 239
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 24, 2025
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Maternal mental health, also known as perinatal mental health, refer to mental health during pregnancy and up to two years after giving birth; and
Whereas, Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders such as postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression affect one in seven women during pregnancy or the postpartum period according to RWJBarnabas Health and as high as one in five women according to the Association of American Medical Colleges; and
Whereas, The World Health Organization has prioritized the advocacy and support of maternal mental health by strengthening information systems, evidence and research related to the mental health of mothers; and
Whereas, All women can develop mental disorders during pregnancy and the period immediately following pregnancy but factors such as poverty, stress, exposure to violence and history of mental illness increase the risk of maternal mental disorders; and
Whereas, Maternal mental disorders impact the health of mothers and the growth and development of children if left untreated, increasing the risk of suicide and psychosis in mothers and malnutrition in children or in rare cases infanticide; and
Whereas, Awareness of maternal mental health disorders is crucial as many women downplay or hide their symptoms without understanding there is the normality of maternal mental health disorders and the support and treatment available; and
Whereas, The Department of Health has a health line dedicated to maternal mood disorders available and licenses and regulates the Maternal and Child Health Consortia, which is a collection of non-profit organizations that include perinatal and pediatric providers, hospitals and community based agencies with an interest in health services for families; and
Whereas, "Maternal Mental Health Month" is recognized by the Postpartum Support International organization each May; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest to designate May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month" in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. May of each year shall be designated "Maternal Mental Health Month" in New Jersey.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month" in New Jersey.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Maternal Mental Health Month" in New Jersey. Maternal mental health, also known as perinatal mental health, refers to mental health during pregnancy and up to two years after pregnancy. Maternal or perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are often overlooked and unspoken, and those affected may feel shame or a need to hide it. Despite the prevalence of maternal mood and anxiety disorders, with up to 1 in 5 women during the pregnancy and post pregnancy period many affected downplay or hide their symptoms. Maternal mental health is crucial to the wellbeing of both the mother and child as left untreated and all maternal mental conditions are treatable if identified with the right support. New Jersey has resources to support maternal mental health and the recognition of this topic may help to connect those affected to those resources.
