Sec. 32.046. POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The commission shall develop and implement a five-year strategic plan to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services. Not later than September 1 of the last fiscal year in each five-year period, the commission shall develop a new strategic plan for the next five fiscal years beginning with the following fiscal year.

(b) The strategic plan must provide strategies to:

(1) increase awareness among state-administered program providers who may serve women who are at risk of or are experiencing postpartum depression about the prevalence and effects of postpartum depression on outcomes for women and children;

(2) establish a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum depression;

(3) increase women's access to formal and informal peer support services, including access to certified peer specialists who have received additional training related to postpartum depression;

(4) raise public awareness of and reduce the stigma related to postpartum depression; and

(5) leverage sources of funding to support existing community-based postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services.

(c) The commission shall coordinate with the department, the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health coordinating council in developing the strategic plan.

(d) The commission, in consultation with the department, the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health coordinating council, shall annually review and update, as necessary, the strategic plan.

(e) For purposes of this section, "postpartum depression" means a disorder in which a woman experiences moderate to severe depression following a pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy resulted in birth, or an act defined by Section 245.002(1).

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1028 (H.B. 253), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.