1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing a public awareness campaign for postpartum 
1.3 	depression;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.906.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145.906, is amended to read:
1.6 	145.906 POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Information. (a) The commissioner of health shall work with 
1.8 	health care facilities, licensed health and mental health care professionals, mental health 
1.9 	advocates, consumers, and families in the state to develop materials and information 
1.10 	about postpartum depression, including treatment resources, and develop policies and 
1.11 	procedures to comply with this section.
1.12 	(b) Physicians, traditional midwives, and other licensed health care professionals 
1.13 	providing prenatal care to women must have available to women and their families 
1.14 	information about postpartum depression.
1.15 	(c) Hospitals and other health care facilities in the state must provide departing new 
1.16 	mothers and fathers and other family members, as appropriate, with written information 
1.17 	about postpartum depression, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, 
1.18 	and treatment resources.
1.19 	(d) Physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals 
1.20 	providing postnatal care to women shall screen new mothers for postpartum depression 
1.21 	symptoms prior to discharge from the birthing facility and at postnatal checkup visits.
1.22 	(e) Physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals 
1.23 	providing prenatal and postnatal care to women shall include fathers and other family 
1.24 	members, as appropriate, in both the education and treatment processes to help these 
2.1 	individuals better understand the nature and causes of postpartum depression so that 
2.2 	they too can overcome the collateral effects of the illness and improve their ability to 
2.3 	be supportive of the new mother.
2.4 		Subd. 2.Public awareness campaign. The commissioner of health shall establish 
2.5 	a public awareness campaign to inform the general public about postpartum depression 
2.6 	and increase awareness of the nature and causes of postpartum depression and its health 
2.7 	risks, including symptoms to be aware of, methods of coping with postpartum depression, 
2.8 	and the most effective means of treatment.