{"id":18248,"date":"2026-05-15T12:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T16:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=18248"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:21:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:21:43","slug":"virginia-launches-beyond-the-blues-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-perinatal-and-postpartum-depression","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/virginia-launches-beyond-the-blues-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-perinatal-and-postpartum-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Launches \u201cBeyond the Blues\u201d Campaign to Raise Awareness of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/b> – <\/span>May\u00a015, 2026<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VDH Media Contact: <\/span><\/b>Cheryle Rodriguez cheryle.rodriguez@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a>\u00a0
\n<\/span>DBHDS Media Contact<\/strong>: Lauren Cunningham,\u00a0lauren.cunningham@dbhds.virginia.gov<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia Launches \u201cBeyond the Blues\u201d Campaign to Raise Awareness of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression\u00a0<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>Campaign helps Virginians recognize emotional changes earlier, reduce<\/span><\/i>\u00a0stigma and connect parents and families to support.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(RICHMOND, Va.) <\/span><\/b>\u2014\u00a0In honor of Maternal Mental Health Month in May, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS),\u00a0announced the launch of\u00a0<\/span>Beyond the Blues<\/span><\/i>, a statewide public awareness campaign designed to help Virginians better understand perinatal & postpartum depression and maternal mental health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0General Assembly\u00a0allocated\u00a0$553,200 for the\u00a0<\/span>campaign<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and development on an online resource hub<\/span>. It\u00a0was created to help parents, families, healthcare\u00a0providers\u00a0and communities recognize that maternal mental health struggles are common,\u00a0treatable\u00a0and often show up in ways people may not expect.\u00a0Symptoms can include physical aches and pains, feelings such as anxiety, numbness, rage, fear, sadness, or simply \u201cnot feeling like themselves.\u201d\u00a0These experiences can happen before pregnancy, during pregnancy, after birth or long after a baby arrives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaternal mental health\u00a0determines\u00a0a parent\u2019s ability to care for their family and themselves,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa<\/span><\/b>. \u201cWhen we support parents through programs like Beyond the Blues, we create more stability for children and help prevent challenges from becoming emergencies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seventy-five percent of\u00a0women affected by postpartum depression\u00a0and maternal mental health issues do not get the help they need.\u00a0Recognizing the symptoms can be part of the challenge.\u00a0The campaign is designed to help make those early signs easier to recognize and talk about.\u00a0It also\u00a0emphasizes community\u00a0responsibility\u00a0and how partners, family members, friends, faith leaders, healthcare providers,\u00a0neighbors\u00a0and local organizations\u00a0can provide support.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSupport often begins with the people closest to a parent,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201cYou\u00a0don’t\u00a0have to be an expert to help.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0notice something,\u00a0you can\u00a0ask, listen without judgment,\u00a0and help\u00a0them\u00a0take that\u00a0next step.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs we all work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, conversation and connection is key,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>DBHDS Commissioner Daryl Washington, LCSW<\/span><\/b>. \u201cStarting that conversation with a friend or loved one experiencing mental health challenges during pregnancy or after birth can make an important difference in their lives and help assure them that they are not alone in this journey.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Blues<\/span><\/i>\u00a0campaign materials will encourage parents to seek support and equip community networks with plain-language tools for starting conversations. Healthcare providers and community messengers will also be encouraged to use compassionate, nonjudgmental language and offer clear next steps for help.\u00a0An online resource hub is available to\u00a0make maternal mental health information more accessible\u00a0for parents, community partners, local health\u00a0districts\u00a0and trusted organizations.\u00a0Focus areas include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n