An influential government-appointed health panel is urging women be screened for depression during pregnancy and after giving birth — a first for recommended screening guidelines for maternal mental illness.

The recommendation was part of updated depression-screening guidelines issued by an independent group of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services, The New York Times reports.

The recommendation comes in the wake of new evidence that maternal mental illness is more common than previously thought; that many cases of what has been called postpartum depression actually start during pregnancy; and that left untreated, these mood disorders can be detrimental to the well-being of children.

It also follows growing efforts by health advocates to help women experiencing these symptoms — an estimated one in seven postpartum mothers, some experts say.

“There’s better evidence for identifying and treating women with depression” during and after pregnancy, said Dr. Michael Pignone, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an author of the recommendation, which was issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. As a result, he said, “We specifically called out the need for screening during this period.”