New York Consolidated Laws, Public Health Law - PBH § 2500-k. Maternal depression

(a) “Maternal depression” means a wide range of emotional and psychological reactions a woman may experience during pregnancy or after childbirth.  These reactions may include, but are not limited to, feelings of despair or extreme guilt, prolonged sadness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, extreme changes in appetite, and thoughts of suicide or of harming the baby.  Maternal depression may include prenatal depression, the “baby blues,” postpartum depression, or postpartum psychosis--the severest form.

(b) “Maternal health care provider” means a physician, midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, or other health care practitioner acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, attending a pregnant woman or a woman up to one year after childbirth, including a practitioner attending the woman's child up to one year after childbirth.

(a) “Maternal depression” means a wide range of emotional and psychological reactions an individual may experience throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.  These reactions may include, but are not limited to, feelings of despair or extreme guilt, prolonged sadness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, extreme changes in appetite, and thoughts of suicide or of harming the baby.  Maternal depression may include prenatal depression, perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, the “baby blues,” postpartum depression, or postpartum psychosis.

(b) “Maternal health care provider” means a physician, midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, or other health care practitioner acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, attending a perinatal individual, including any practitioner attending the individual's child, from conception up to one year postpartum.

2. Maternal depression information.  (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of mental health, shall make available to maternal health care providers information on maternal depression.  The information shall include, but not be limited to:

(b) The information on maternal depression shall be posted on the department's website.  The commissioner shall, in collaboration with the commissioner of mental health, update and review the information on maternal depression, as necessary.

(a) inform providers of the need to raise awareness about maternal depression;  and

(b) provide information on the department's and office of mental health's websites regarding how to locate available providers who treat or provide support for maternal depression including, but not limited to, mental health professionals, other licensed professionals, peer support, not-for-profit corporations and other community resources.

3. [Eff. June 21, 2026.  See, also, subd. 3 above.] Maternal depression screenings.  (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental health, the office of addiction services and supports, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the commissioner, shall publish guidance for incorporating maternal depression screenings into routine perinatal care.  This guidance shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations and best practices related to:

(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental health, the office of addiction services and supports, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the commissioner, shall identify existing information and training programs designed to inform providers in an effort to promote maternal depression screening and treatment, and publish the links to such information and training programs on the department's website.  The identified information and training programs shall include the following topics:

(a) inform providers of the need to raise awareness about maternal depression;  and

(b) provide information on the department's and office of mental health's websites regarding how to locate available providers who treat or provide support for maternal depression including, but not limited to, mental health professionals, other licensed professionals, peer support, not-for-profit corporations and other community resources.