The Perinatal Mental Health Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act (Public Act 95-0469) becomes effective January 1, 2008. The purpose of this Act is to increase awareness and to promote early detection and treatment of perinatal depression. The Act requires that:

• Licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care provide education to women, and if possible and with permission, to their families about perinatal mental health disorders.
• All hospitals providing labor and delivery services provide new mothers, prior to discharge following childbirth, and if possible, provide fathers and other family members complete information about perinatal mental health disorders.
• Licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care, postnatal care, and care to the infant invite the women to complete a questionnaire to assess whether they suffer from perinatal mental health disorders.

This information has been provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. For additional information, you can find PA 95-0469 here.