New Jersey § 26:2-176

§ 26:2-176.

The Commissioner of Health , in conjunction with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey Board

of Nursing, shall work with health care facilities and licensed health care professionals

in the State to develop policies and procedures to achieve the following requirements

concerning postpartum depression: a. Physicians, nurse midwives , and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal care to women shall

provide education to women and their families about postpartum depression in order

to lower the likelihood that new mothers will continue to suffer from this illness

in silence; b. All birthing facilities in the State shall provide departing new mothers and fathers

and other family members, as appropriate, with complete information about postpartum

depression, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness , and treatment resources; c. Physicians, nurse midwives , and other licensed health care professionals providing postnatal care to women shall

screen new mothers for postpartum depression symptoms prior to discharge from the

birthing facility and at the first few postnatal check-up visits; and d. Physicians, nurse midwives , and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal and postnatal care

to women shall include fathers and other family members, as appropriate, in both the

education and treatment processes to help them better understand the nature and causes

of postpartum depression so that they too can overcome the spillover effects of the

illness and improve their ability to be supportive of the new mother.