Hi! 

Thank you so much for supporting my petition “#BeatTheBlues: GoK Ensure Mental Health Screening for Mothers During and After Pregnancy”. We are now a family of 8000+ supporters, and it is because of each one of you that my belief in this cause becomes stronger everyday!

On 4th August 2021, the Karnataka government underwent a cabinet expansion. According to the new list, the Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development is now Sri Achar Halappa Basappa.

I have updated the petition with the new decision maker, and would request the Hon’ble Minister to look into this matter and take action accordingly.

This will only be possible with your support - the more signatures on my petition, the more likely the decision makers are to respond.

The urgency to improve the treatment of mental health in new and expecting mothers is increasing, as the COVID-19 pandemic is in full swing. An interview of Dr. Manju Puri, Head of the Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Lady Hardinge Medical College, released by the central Health Ministry said that during the second wave, many women contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy compared to the first wave. 

Dr. Puri, while talking about postpartum depression and anxiety, said that there is an increase in mental health problems among women during pregnancy and post-childbirth. In the absence of social support, she can feel lonely, helpless, and depressed.

Isolation for 15-days is difficult for everyone, but more so for pregnant women and postnatal mothers. During this time, the additional anxiety about her child's health can severely affect her mental status.

We need to take collective action to ensure that mother's mental health needs are treated at par with physical health needs, especially in the dire situation of this pandemic. 

Please sign and share my petition, and join the movement to #BeatTheBlues!

Best,
Anvita Nair