New news out of Seattle... the state of Washington has officially launched its new "Speak Up When You're Down" PPD public awareness campaign, led by the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN).

The estimated number of Washington state women who suffer some form of postpartum mood disorder each year ranges from 8,000 (on the extra-conservative side) to as many as 16,000.

The campaign centers around three messages: PPD is real, help is available, and talking about how you feel is the first step. The campaign will focus on providing basic information about the signs and symptoms of postpartum mood disorders, sharing info with the public primarily through its website and free hotline.

The campaign's toll-free HOTLINE (for Washington state residents) - 1.888.404.7763 - is operated by PSI of Washington, which is partnering in support of the statewide initiative.

Here's an excerpt from the campaign press release:

``Washington State's commitment to raising awareness about PPD was born out of one family's tragedy,'' Sharp notes, referring to Thomas Soukakos, who led a grassroots effort to pass the 2005 law authorizing the campaign. Soukakos, owner of the popular Vios Cafe in Seattle, took up the cause after losing his wife to an extreme case of PPD in 2003. Hundreds of mostly female advocates across the state supported him.

``Thankfully, most women who have PPD do not experience the extreme condition Thomas' wife faced,'' notes [Joan] Sharp [director of WCPCAN]. ``But no matter how serious a form it takes, the challenges for women and their families are significant. The information being shared through the campaign will make a positive difference for thousands of families in Washington who otherwise would have struggled in silence without the knowledge or resources that will help them deal with this very prevalent condition.''