Governor Glenn Youngkin visited a women’s behavioral health center Tuesday morning as part of an effort to recognize Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, 86% of pregnancy-associated accidental deaths were from overdoses.
At an event at Richmond Behavioral Health Women’s Campus in Northside Tuesday morning, Amanda Brandt shared her story: incarcerated while pregnant, with a history of substance abuse and mental health issues, she got her life back on track after a referral program saw her and her baby moved into the facility together.
Now she’s secured housing, months of sobriety and custody of her child.
“I know what it feels like to think you've messed up too bad to come back from it. But you haven’t," Brandt, whose now in training to be a peer recovery specialist, said. "If I can do it, anyone can.”
Youngkin said changes under his administration have led to fewer maternal deaths and better outcomes for women who would otherwise slip through the cracks. He pointed to mental health and addiction treatment initiatives like Right Help Right Now as bons for expectant mothers addressing the leading causes of maternal mortality.
“Being in drug treatment, being in counseling, is the key,” Youngkin said.
And Delegate Rodney Willet, chair of the House Behavioral Health Committee, said bipartisan agreements on nearly $7 million in new funds for programs, as well as legislative changes that can help address workforce issues, will help reduce maternal mortality.
“This is a rural issue, an urban issue, a suburban issue: we lack enough providers," Willet told Radio IQ after Tuesday's event. "So, that’s going to continue to be my focus, and I think you’ll see that as a shared interest going forward.”
Willet added they’d look to address the issue via more spending in the 2026 budget, a process he said will start in the coming months.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
