Postpartum Support International (PSI) is now offering free Perinatal Mood Disorder Info Sessions via a 1-800 teleconference , with the next scheduled session this week - May 9 at 9 p.m. Eastern.

These Wednesday evening sessions, which are informational only, will be limited to the first 15 callers, offering participants the chance to ask questions and get information from PSI healthcare professionals. The sessions are open to any and all women who feel they may be suffering from a pregnancy-or-birth-related mood disorder (including depression, anxiety), as well as concerned partners, family members or friends.

Participants must call 1.800.944.8766 five minutes before the call begins. For more detailed instructions, click here.

Sessions will last approximately one hour, and callers can choose to remain anonymous.

Important: These info sesions are NOT meant to take the place of visits to healthcare providers, and they do not provide therapy! They provide educational information that can help you understand perinatal mood disorders, supporting you in getting the professional help you need.

THE CALL SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, May 9, 9 PM EST, Facilitator Tonya Honeycutt, PsyD

Wednesday, May 16, 3 PM EST, Facilitator Anne D.S. Smith, CNM

Wednesday, May 23, 9 PM EST, Facilitator Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW

Wednesday, May 30, 3 PM EST, Facilitator Birdie Gunyon Meyer, RN, MA, CLC

Posted by Sarah M. at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As the fabulous Postpartum Progress blog has reported... Hospitals in Queens, New York are now doing what it takes to educate expectant and new mothers about postpartum depression (PPD) AND to follow up with them during the postpartum period, after hospital discharge.

What does it take, to launch such a program in a busy, overtaxed hospital setting, you ask? I'll tell you: Just a little cooperation and communication between the powers-that-be in the psychiatric department and the powers-that-be in the neonatal unit. And voila - Preventive care!

Cheers to them for setting an example of what can be accomplished for women and their babies.

Posted by Sarah M. at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Posted by Sarah M. at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (292) | TrackBacks (0)