Chicago conference on perinatal depression, November 8
Fabulous advocate-blogger Katherine Stone has posted this important announcement on Postpartum Progress:
« September 2006 | Main | November 2006 »
October 30, 2006
October 29, 2006
Media Watch: Cheers to BBC News
Thanks to BBC News health reporter Jane Elliott for another in a series of good stories on perinatal mental health, sharing the real stories of real women who are speaking out about their experiences in an effort to help others:
"Childbirth 'left me feeling angry'"
I love that these feature stories are published with links to U.K. organizations that educate the public and help moms. Here are a few:
The Association for Postnatal Illness
The National Childbirth Trust
The Church of Scotland's Postnatal Depression Project
The British Psychological Society
October 24, 2006
Second edition of nurses' guide includes new chapter on postpartum mental health
Obstetric and nursery/pediatric nurses have used the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses' (AWHONN) Compendium of Postpartum Care for many years, as a main source of information to prepare mothers and families with the skills and education they need after a baby is born. AWHONN recently updated and reorganized the content of the Compendium, and the second edition is hot off the press!
More from AWHONN about the new publication:
"In addition to comprehensive updated practice guidelines that address the physical, emotional, psychosocial, and developmental needs of families from birth through three months postpartum, the second edition features a new chapter on the latest research and practice recommendations for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, written by one of the nation's foremost experts on this topic."
"The new edition also contains a chapter integrating both maternal and newborn breast feeding care and support information. It includes helpful and handy updated patient education handouts that nurses and other health care providers can duplicate and distribute to new mothers."
To purchase the second edition of this resource from AWHONN (cost approx. $45), click here.
Media Watch: Cheers for Jersey columnist Tom Davis
Thanks to New Jersey Record columnist Tom Davis for an informed, intelligent editorial responding to the public discourse about Andrea Yates - and more importantly, for addressing the broader issue of mental health awareness and the urgent need to banish stigma.
October 23, 2006
Free educational workshops in Maryland
This week: More educational events for caregivers and community members in the state of Maryland!
CCSi and the Mental Health Association of Prince George's County are sponsoring FREE workshops on perinatal depression, open to professionals in the field and members of the public.
The workshops are intended "to increase knowledge of the signs and symptoms of perinatal depression, educate providers and women of childbearing age of the treatment options, and to encourage screening and treatment referrals."
Here's the lineup:
Caregiver Workshops:
October 25, 2006
9 a.m. - 12 noon
Doctor's Community Hospital
Center for Ambulatory Surgery
5th Floor DSE Room
8118 Goodluck Rd.
Lanham, MD 20706
October 27, 2006
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Southern Maryland Hospital Center
Library
7503 Surratts Rd.
Clinton, MD 20735
Community Workshops:
October 25, 2006
5 - 8 p.m.
Doctor's Community Hospital
Center for Ambulatory Surgery
5th Floor DSE Room
8118 Goodluck Rd.
Lanham, MD 20706
October 27, 2006
5 - 8 p.m.
Southern Maryland Hospital Center
Library
7503 Surratts Rd.
Clinton, MD 20735
You can register online at www.communitycrisis.org or by calling 301.864.7095, ext. 420.
"Listening to Mothers," part 2
The second edition results of Childbirth Connection's nationwide "Listening to Mothers" survey are now available!
This report, commissioned by the NYC-based organization formerly known as the Maternity Center Association (MCA), provides insight on American women's prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences during the year 2005.
And yes, it does cover perinatal mental health issues - reflecting what the research, as well as the anecdotal evidence of thousands of mothers, has already shown. That is, depression and anxiety commonly affect pregnant and postpartum women, representing the number one complication of childbirth!
To read the executive summary as a free PDF, just click here and follow the registration instructions.
October 21, 2006
Shocking? Most mothers don't get enough sleep.
As if we needed a team of social scientists to to tell us... Most American mothers don't get enough sleep.
And moms who work full-time outside the home are suffering the most from sleep deprivation, with 59 percent of the full-time working mothers surveyed reporting insufficient sleep on a regular basis.
According to a Reuters report on the study, "The survey found 52 percent of America's mothers believed that getting more sleep would make them better parents and 65 percent said it would make them happier. But even when mothers do get into bed, many lie awake at night, with 36 percent obsessing about the next day's tasks, 25 percent stressing about the family's finances and 24 percent worrying about family issues."
Duh.
Conf call for professionals & advocates: "Addressing Maternal Mental Health in Local Health Department Healthy Start Programs"
Next week,CityMatCH and NACCHO are co-sponsoring a free conference call for public health professionals and others who work in maternal-child health.
"Addressing Maternal Mental Health in Local Health Department Healthy Start Programs" is set for Thursday, October 26 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Featured speakers are Belinda Pettiford, MPH, supervisor of the Perinatal Health and Family Support Unitt, Women’s and Children’s Health Section at the North Carolina Division of Public Health and president of the National Healthy Start Association; Lisa Derrick, MEd, BAM, program director of the South Phoenix Healthy Start athe Maricopa County Department of Public Health in Arizona,; Yvonne Beasley, MN, RN, project director of Indianapolis Healthy Start and director of maternal and child health at the Marion County Health Department in Illinois; and Shelley Vaughn, MS, program manager of Indianapolis Healthy Start at Marion County Health Department in Illinois.
The call will describe the efforts of the Healthy Start program to provide maternal mental health care (including screening and referrals), describe case studies in providing this type of care at two Healthy Start sites, share useful resources for providing maternal mental health services, and will include discussion of challenges faced by the program in providing mental health care.
Registration is open -- Just click here.
Maternal stress during pregnancy associated with slower fetal growth
More data that confirms the negative effects of stress during pregnancy has been published in the September-October 2006 edition of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
This study found that women experiencing significant stress have smaller fetuses at mid-pregnancy than other mothers who are not distressed. The lead researcher on this team, Dr. Miguel Diego at the Universiof Miami School of Medicine, attributes the difference to the hormone cortisol, which is released by the adrenal gland in times of stress.
And Dr. Diego is quoted by a Reuters reporter with this recommendation: "Women who have clinical depression or diagnosed anxiety disorder, or are under some extreme level of stress, should be looking for some sort of medical treatment."
Prior to this study, none have looked at how stress during pregnancy affects the fetus before birth - although a number of studies have found a statistically significant link between maternal distress and premature delivery, as well as low birthweight.
Program helps moms giving birth while dads are at war
The national nonprofit program Operation Special Delivery is making a big difference for moms left at home while a military dad is overseas.
Operation Special Delivery is the brainchild of CAPPA, the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, and offers a free, volunteer labor doula to military wives who give birth while their partners are deployed. Any military wife can apply for this program - all it takes is a few minutes to fill out a form. And the doulas - professionally-trained women who support birthing mothers throughout labor and delivery - are fabulous and committed.
The Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia recently published a feature story on the program that has been picked up by major news services - hopefully helping to spread the word to expectant moms, as well as to professional doulas who can volunteer their services by joining the program.
To read testimonials from moms who have participated, click here. To apply for doula support, click here. To volunteer your services as a doula, click here.
October 19, 2006
NMHA accepting proposals for 2007 conference in DC
The call has been issued for "Bringing Wellness Home" in 2007:
Who: National Mental Health Association
When: June 6-9, 2007
Where: Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., N.W., Washington, DC
NMHA is calling on advocates, consumers, community leaders, researchers and other mental health stakeholders to submit presentation proposals for its 2007 annual meeting. Each year the event brings together over 500 mental health leaders from across the country to strategize on strengthening the nation's mental health movement.
To submit a proposal, click here. The deadline is November 15, 2006.
NMHA will consider presentations for the following areas:
Advocacy - Public policy issues and strategies at the federal, state and local levels to ensure equality, access and quality-of-care for all children and adults with mental health needs.
Education & Outreach - Effective outreach techniques to educate various populations about critical mental health topics from promotion, prevention and intervention perspectives.
Services - Adults & Older Adults - Successful efforts to support the recovery and empowerment of adult and older adult mental health consumers.
Services - Children & Families - Issues surrounding the mental health needs of children and families.
Affiliate Management - The business of running a Mental Health Association, possibly including board development, staffing, leadership, consumer involvement, strategic planning, and marketing membership.
Affiliate Resource Development - Budget management, financial diversification, fundraising. and grant management for Mental Health Associations.
All submitters will be notified about the status of their proposals by January 2007. For more info, contact NMHA at 800.969.NMHA (6642) or send email to: 2007meeting@nmha.org.
Equipping marriage & family therapists to better recognize & treat PMDs
This week Austin, Texas is hosting the Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. And on the lineup for professional education are a six-hour institute (Thursday) on "Perinatal Mood Disorders" by Diana Barnes of PSI, and a two-hour workshop (Saturday) on "Hormones, the Brain, & Culture: Challenges for New Mothers," by Sherry Duson.
Their goal: Getting more MFTs (marriage and family therapists) up to speed on perinatal mood disorders and addressing them in clinical settings. As anyone who has experienced emotional difficulties surrounding childbirth knows all too well, it impacts the entire family, reverberating in every direction... the mother-baby relationship, the spousal relationship, and the family system as a whole.
Kudos to these fabulous folks for sharing the latest research-based information on perinatal mood disorders at a national conference, where the message has a big impact on the care women and families will receive in communities across the country!
October 16, 2006
Houston symposium on women's mental health & the law
On November 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Houston, Texas, the local chapter of the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) will sponsor a FREE symposium open to advocates, professionals, and the public: "Beyond the Yates Verdict: Women's Mental Health & the Law."
Speakers include Houston attorney George Parnham, who led the Yates defense in the recent retrial, and Lucy Puryear, M.D., Houston psychiatrist and expert in the field of women's mental health who serves on the faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine.
For more details, click here. Space is limited, and you need to RSVP, ASAP, if you plan to attend!
October 13, 2006
Media Watch: Susan Stone on CBS Early Show
Susan Dowd Stone, current president of Postpartum Support International (PSI), was on the CBS Early Show this morning, educating the public about postpartum depression.
High-five to Susan for squeezing into this short segment the important point that screening and awareness of emotional wellness must begin during pregnancy - So many women experience extremes of anxiety and depression during the prenatal period, and too often it goes undiagnosed and untreated. These women are at greater risk for severe postpartum depression, as a result. In addition, it's crucial that mental health is on the radar screens of expectant moms (and their partners and families) before they are home with a newborn and find themselves in crisis.
Bravo, CBS. Bravo, PSI.
October 12, 2006
Media Watch: God bless CBS!
Cheers for the CBS television network!
On October 15, the popular "Cold Case" show will deal with the issue of postpartum depression in an episode titled "Baby Blues" (airing 9-10 p.m. ET/PT).
During the show's commercial breaks, public service announcements (PSAs) with "Cold Case" actors Kathryn Morris and Danny Pino will educate about PPD.
CBS Cares has partnered with Postpartum Support International [PSI] to launch this PSA and online education campaign on postpartum depression.
This episode of "Cold Case" includes a storyline in which a mother admits to feeling stressed out with the demands of a new baby, along with being a working mother.
The PSAs will include warnings about the severity of postpartum depression, including the negative emotional and physical effects on the mother, infant, and family if the mother is not treated. To help with early detection, the PSAs will highlight symptoms such as tearfulness, mood swings, and difficulty connecting with the new baby. Each PSA will remind new mothers and family members that no one is to blame and that this is an easily treatable medical disease.
"These PSAs represent the most comprehensive national public health initiative ever undertaken to bring awareness to perinatal mood disorders," said Dowd Stone in the press release jointly issued by CBS and PSI. "With the potential of reaching millions of women, partners and families, lives can be saved by ending the isolation of sufferers and offering access to treatment resources. PSI strongly commends CBS Cares and COLD CASE for devoting their substantial talents and resources to raise awareness of this critical and underserved public health issue. We are honored to be partners in this worthy community outreach."
The CBS Cares website will provide additional information such as interviews with field experts discussing the symptoms of perinatal illness and treatment options. The site will also link to the PSI website, which lists local resources available and includes a helpline number -- 1.800.944.4773.
For the first time, CBS Cares will also make available a Spanish-language version of the PSAs featuring Danny Pino to any broadcaster or cable operator wishing to run them, and will do so without the CBS Cares logo, allowing entities to brand them as their own. The CBS Cares website will include the English and Spanish-language versions.
Dr. Margaret Spinelli, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of Maternal Mental Health Program, New York State Psychiatric Institute, served as a medical consultant for the PSAs and online campaign. (She also served as a medical expert for the Andrea Yates retrial.)
On November 17, PSI is honoring both CBS Cares and "Cold Case" for their commitment to this illness with the Excellence in Media Outreach Award. More info on this gala event is available on PSI's website.
New Jersey screening law goes into effect
New Jersey's groundbreaking, progressive legislation requiring that all new mothers be screened for postpartum depression (PPD) went into effect on Tuesday.
Three cheers for Jersey! This is a model initiative that other states can, should, MUST adapt and adopt as their own. It also, let us hope, foreshadows the long-overdue federal legislation that will address this health crisis as something just as real, just as important, as prematurity, c-section rates, and HIV.
October 07, 2006
Also in Illinois...great training & education program for healthcare professionals
The University of Illiinois, Chicago (UIC) has used an HRSA grant to create a statewide program that offers services to healthcare providers who work with women and families:
1) Perinatal Consultation Service : A service for healthcare providers with questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of perinatal depression. Consultants are psychiatrists in the Women's Mental Health Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago who are experts in perinatal depression. This service is free of charge and can be accessed by calling 1.800.573-6121, or by completing and submitting this form.
2) Perinatal Depression Workshops: The UIC Perinatal Depression Awareness Team offers comprehensive training workshops on how to recognize, assess, screen, and treat peripartum depression.
3) On-Site Screening and Assessment Consultation: The Peripartum Depression Awareness Team assists providers in setting up of screening and assessment programs for peripartum depression at their clinic sites. The team also provides screening and assessment tools.
Free, 24-hour hotline for Illinois moms
Women who live in the state of Illinois should know that they have access to a free, 24-hour, confidential HOTLINE where they can get information and help in finding a therapist or support group.
Illinois women experiencing depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy or after having a baby should call 1.866.ENH.MOMS (1.866.364.6667).
For more information about this statewide support program, which is managed by Evanston Northwest Healthcare, click here.
October 03, 2006
FDA issues safety warning on prenatal use of Lamictal
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety warning on the drug Lamictal, which is used to treat both bipolar disorder and epilepsy. Lamictal, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has shown to be affiliated with an "elevated rate" of cleft palate or lip in the developing fetus, when a pregnant woman takes the medication during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Back in August, GlaxoSmithKline was in discussions with Health Canada, voluntarily informing Canadian physicians of what appears to be an "elevated rate" of birth defects, compared to the babies of women who were not taking the drug in their first trimester. That was the first public indicator that something might be awry.
Late last week, the FDA issued this warning for women: "If you take Lamictal and are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor. Lamictal is used for seizures or bipolar disorder, serious conditions that need treatment even during pregnancy. Do not start or stop using Lamictal without talking to your doctor. More research is needed to be sure about this possibly increased chance of cleft lip or cleft palate in babies born to mothers who take Lamictal."
In a separate warning issued to physicians, made public on the FDA website, they say: "Preliminary data from the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry suggest a possible association between exposure to lamotrigine monotherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy and cleft lip and/or cleft palate. The oral clefts reported were few and were not part of a syndrome that included other birth defects. Other pregnancy registries of similar size have not replicated this observation. The validity of this possible association cannot be established until further data are collected in the NAAED Pregnancy Registry, in other ongoing pregnancy registries, or through other research efforts. The clinical significance of this preliminary report is thus uncertain."
Pregnant women who have been treated with this drug during pregnancy, or for whom it remains a necessary treatment during pregnancy, may register in the NAAED Pregnancy Registry (call 1.888.233.2334). GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of lamotrigine, is also administering a pregnancy registry to learn more about this possible association (call 1.800.336.2176).
October 02, 2006
Salud para todos: Program trains community health workers to address mental health needs
Migrant Health Promotion has created a model program for community health workers that specifically addresses mental health needs and is aimed at Spanish-speaking, historically under-served individuals.
"Salud Para Todos" (Health for All) trains promotores and promotoras (community health workers) to address mental health, substance abuse, stress and violence in their camps and communities.
Migrant Health Promotion assists organizations who want to replicate the program in their communities, and it has already been replicated at over 10 sites nationwide.
The program materials (a manual for health workers, a curriculum and an implementation guide) are available online at no charge. Go to http://migranthealth.org/our_programs/program_models/salud_para_todos.php and scroll down to the "Materials" section.
For more info on this outreach effort with under-served communities, contact Migrant Health Promotion at: capacity (at) migranthealth (dot) org or 734.944.0244.
National awards program donates funds to nonprofit orgs
Welcome Back Awards Program Honors Innovators in the Depression Community
Deadline: November 13, 2006
The Welcome Back Awards is a national program that recognizes those who have made great achievements in the depression community. Each year, five honorees receive up to $15,000 to donate to the not-for-profit organization of their choice. The awards are sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
An independent panel of mental health experts will select honorees in five categories:
Lifetime Achievement: Any individual whose perseverance has helped him or her overcome clinical depression and resume a fulfilling life. (Award level: $15,000.)
Destigmatization: Any individual whose noteworthy public efforts have helped promote the understanding of depression and reduce the shame and guilt associated with the illness. (Award level: $10,000.)
Community Service: Any individual whose outstanding work creating and improving community programs fosters a supportive, caring environment for those suffering from depression. (Award level: $10,000.)
Primary Care: Any healthcare professional (e.g., psychologists, physicians, social workers, or nurses) whose unique approach to identifying particular needs in depression diagnosis and treatment serves as an example to others. (Award level: $10,000.)
Psychiatry: Any psychiatrist who transcends the profession through community work, innovative clinical programs, teaching, new research, outstanding work with patients, or who makes a significant impact on the community or other medical disciplines. (Award level: $10,000.)
Nomination guidelines and forms can are available at the program's website.
Media Watch: Cheers for editorial in Seattle paper
Kudos to Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Susan Paynter for discussing the many reverberations of PPD in her column, and for using the real stories of real moms in a powerful, positive way:
"Everyone pays a price for postpartum depression."
To thank Paynter for her compelling editorial on this topic, contact her at: susanpaynter (at) seattlepi (dot) com.