The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society launched a new program Tuesday to support the mental wellbeing and physical health of expectant and new mothers.
This program came as the Navy has brought in over 14,000 new recruits since Oct. 1. Over 100,000 active duty members and military spouses give birth every year.
NMCRS Visiting Nurses will begin implementing the “First Year Focus” on behalf of service members or qualifying family members from in their homes or virtually. The charity cites, “One in three are impacted by maternal mental health conditions, which is twice the rate of the civilian population.”
“This unique, comprehensive program strongly considers mothers’ physical health but has a solid emphasis on their mental and emotional well-being as well,” NMCRS Visiting Nurse Program Director Capt. Rosemary Perdue said. “Military life presents unique challenges, so First Year Focus addresses those issues while also helping to mitigate the overall risks of serious mental and physical health conditions.”
NMCRS is over 120 years old. Last year, it provided $50 million in financial assistance to over 208,000 active-duty and retired sailors, Marines, and their families.
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The Navy has set its highest recruiting goal in at least 20 years, with 40,600 desired recruits. Last year, the Navy set the same goal but did not quite reach it. Should it reach its desired number, the Navy would end 2014 with 332,300 service members.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy similarly promised programs to encourage “marriage and birth rates.”