Jun 4, 2026 - News
Washington earns a B- in maternal mental health report
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Washington is doing slightly better than most states at supporting mothers' mental health, a new report finds.
Why it matters: About one in five U.S. moms experience maternity-related mental health conditions like postpartum depression, and most don't get the treatment they need.
State of play: Washington earned a B- in the new report from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
- The nation overall earned a C, with no states receiving A grades.
- States were scored across 27 measures in four domains: screening and detection, providers and treatment, policy and payment, and the new parental support category.
Zoom in: Washington scored well on screening — meaning doctors and nurses are checking for postpartum depression.
- But the state has no inpatient mental health treatment program for new moms and scored zero on child-care availability and affordability.
Go deeper: Maternal mental health scores — Which states get a "D"