New U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations call for mandatory screening for depression for everyone over the age of 18.
Texas doctors are encouraged to screen patients for depression, but it’s not required.
"From a national standpoint, to say that we do need to screen this, gives it a little bit extra emphasis,” University of North Texas Health Science Center's Dr. Shanna Combs said.
When it comes to postpartum depression, Texas has a law that sets it apart from other states.
The "Andrea Yates Bill" — named after the Houston mother who admitted to drowning her five children in a bathtub and was diagnosed with postpartum depression — requires doctors to tell pregnant women about postpartum depression.
Some doctors, like Combs, screen all their patients for postpartum depression anyway.
"It’s such a common problem," she said.
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Combs said studies show 1 in 7 women will have postpartum depression, and it’s becoming even more common.
"I think the biggest concern in Texas is resources," Combs said. "Having good counseling resources."
