The purpose of this amendment is to update the Q&As with answers for two (2) questions (see #'s 34 and 35) that were submitted timely ((see attached document titled Maternal Mental Health Hotline Questions and Answers (QAs) 08-23-2021 and Questions and Answers (QAs) 08-23-2021).

The purpose of this amendment is to respond to the questions received for the solicitation (see attached document titled Maternal Mental Health Hotline Questions and Answers (QAs) 08-17-2021).

The U.S. suffers from one of the highest maternal death rates in the developed world, with suicide  and drug overdose being the leading causes of death during the first year postpartum.¹ Maternal  mental health conditions – specifically anxiety and depression, along with other behavioral health  conditions such as bipolar illness and substance use disorder – are the most common complications  of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting as many as 1 in 5 women or 800,000 women each year in the  United States.² To help address these issues, Congress, through the FY 2021 Omnibus and COVID  Relief and Response Act (P.L. 116-260), directed the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to “contract with a qualified entity to establish and maintain a maternal mental health hotline to be staffed by qualified counselors, 24 hours a day. Funding may also be used for  outreach to raise awareness about maternal mental health issues and the hotline.”

The purpose of this requirement is to provide a national, confidential maternal mental health hotline (“hotline”) to be staffed by qualified counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Counselors shall provide immediate psychosocial support, evidence-based information, brief intervention, resources and referrals via telephone, text and live web chat, to pregnant or  postpartum persons experiencing symptoms of perinatal mental health conditions and their support persons/loved ones (“help seekers”).