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)

A first-of-its-kind Postpartum Depression (PPD) Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Chicago, sponsored by The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Foundation and Postpartum Support International (PSI).

Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) is expected to attend, where he will be honored with the first Melanie Stokes Leadership Award for his tireless advocacy on behalf of women, children, and families.

When passed by the US Congress, The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Act (HR 20) will provide for research on and services for women with postpartum depression (PPD) or postpartum psychosis (PPP) - the condition that took Melanie's life soon after giving birth to her daughter.

Posted by Sarah M. at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Sixth Annual Lunafest Film Festival DC (featuring films made by...for...about women), set for Wednesday, April 11 at the Arlington Cinema & Draft House, will raise funds for a very special cause that helps local pregnant women & new moms... and is dear to my own heart.

This year, net proceeds of Lunafest DC go to Postpartum Support International (PSI) - a worldwide network of volunteers, advocates, and professionals who care about the mental health of expectant and new moms.

I volunteer locally with PSI as the DC-Area Coordinator, along with fabulous Arlington mama Adrienne Griffen, who is the Virginia Coordinator. Together, Adrienne and I lead the free DC Peer Support Group, which meets two evenings each month in the Palisades neighborhood of DC and is geared toward women experiencing depression, anxiety, or stress before or after having a baby. (Adrienne also leads a daytime Peer Support Group that meets twice a month in Arlington, and there are additional groups in Loudon County and Fairfax, VA.)

The need is almost overwhelming in the DC area for information, emotional support, and simple empathy and kindness. There are many women reaching out for help each day, and sadly, many more who can't or don't. Those of us doing PSI's work in the Washington area are volunteering our time. But fundraisers like Lunafest can offset costs associated with designing and copying brochures that can be distributed to women at doctor's offices, special events, and moms' club, letting them know that local help IS available.

I hope my DC-area readers will turn out for this fun "girls' night out" at Lunafest, to watch some cool independent films and contribute to a worthy cause. Tix are $10 at the door. The evening will start at 6 p.m. with live jazz music and wine tasting, and the movies start at 7:30.

Many thanks to local mama and Stroller Strides instructor Jennifer Lungren for putting this film festival together - and for taking the initiative to contribute to PSI's community service. For more info about Lunafest, contact Jennifer at jlungren (at) strollerstrides (dot) net. For more about Lunafest, click here.

Posted by Sarah M. at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (3)

Mark your calendar now, fellow advocates, volunteers, and clinicians:

Postpartum Support International (PSI) of Washington's 2007 Conference, Beyond the Birth: Current Trends in Treating Perinatal and Postpartum Mood Disorders, is set for September 21, 2007 at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington.

The conference is designed to educate professionals in the birthing community, such as therapists, physicians, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, and others who work with pregnant and postpartum women.

Specific details on times, speakers, and registration will be available in the next few months at the website: www.ppmdsupport.com.

Posted by Sarah M. at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Fabulous West Coast advocate, postpartum doula, and volunteer PSI coordinator Heidi Koss-Nobel is leading a one-day PPMD (postpartum mood disorder) workshop on Monday, March 26 at the Seattle Midwifery School in Washington State.

In addition to Heidi, speakers are Dr. Margie Bone, a psychiatrist in private practice, and Rebecca Brabo Silva, a psychotherapist in private practice.

For more details, click here.

The workshop is aimed at healthcare providers, and CEUs will be available. Tuition is $125 and space is limited, so you must register in advance by contacting the Seattle Midwifery School directly: 800.747.9433 or 206.322.8834.

Posted by Sarah M. at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that the fabulous Karen Kleiman and The Postpartum Stress Center in Philadelphia offers quarterly trainings?

The next session is set for Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, 2007! Early registration ends January 2. Click here to download and print the registration form. Discounts are available to groups and graduate students.

These trainings are unique opportunities - in small group settings of four to eight participants - for clinicians who are seriously dedicated to specializing and to becoming experts in the field of perinatal mental health. Participants spend a day not just learning the facts about assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders, but also learning how to interact closely with and exploring the challenges of assisting postpartum women.

Here's more from Karen:

Our belief that postpartum women require an active, involved therapist has led us to develop training methods that go beyond passive study or more traditional instruction styles. Instead, a significant component of our experiential training involves modeling the relational, philosophical style we believe essential to a positive therapeutic outcome: Therapy will be more successful if the therapist takes on a proactive role as the expert who is equally supportive and well-informed.

The staff at the PPSC are committed to making the training experience intimate and meaningful, so it can inspire other clinicians to carry out this important work on behalf of women struggling with postpartum depression.

Posted by Sarah M. at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1144) | TrackBacks (103)

The Spectrum Health Perinatal Depression Conference is set for February 8-9, 2007 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and will be attended by healthcare professionals, students, and women's/family health advocates fromt hroughout the state.

Speakers include Dr. Anthony Richtsmeier from Spectrum Health Pediatric Behavioral Medicine, Birdie Gunyon Meyer, BSN, of Clarian Health Services, psychiatrist Dr. Curt Cunningham, psychologist Dr. Kerry Kerr McAvoy, and Nancy Roberts, RN and CCE, from the Spectrum Health Postpartum Emotional Support Group.

Here's a description:

The conference will promote awareness of postpartum depression and facilitates identification, treatment, intervention, and support. Participants will brainstorm strategies for screening perinatal mood disorders, discuss appropriate pharmacologic medications, and identify available treatments.

Physicians, RNs, LPNs, social workers, mental health professionals, home health workers, and others involved int he care of women are invited. Nursing continuing education information is available on request.

For more info or to register, contact Nancy Roberts at nancy.roberts (at) spectrum-health (dot) org or 616.391.1771, or Amber Kelly at amber.kelly (at) spectrum-health (dot) org, 616.391.1422.

Posted by Sarah M. at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

What sounds like a fabulous training workshop for professionals and advocates/activists is set for February 2-3, 2007 in California, sponsored by Postpartum Support International (PSI) and El Camino Hospital.

Among the fabulous speakers is Dr. Shoshana Bennett, founder/coordinator of Postpartum Assistance for Mothers in Castro Valley, CA and past president of PSI, as well as the co-author of a great book - Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression. Also instructing at the workshop will be Dr. Caroline Little Cribari, department chief of Behavioral Health Services at El Camino Hospital, and Dr. Pec Indman, a psychotherapist in Santa Clara, CA who is a coordinator for PSI and is involved in several international postpartum health organizations, as well as co-author of Beyond the Blues with Shoshana Bennett.

Among the topics:

Myths of Motherhood
Stigmas of Mental Illness
Care Provider Biases
Emotional Reactions to Pregnancy & Birth
Barriers to Treatment
Etiology/Symptomatology
Pharmacological Treatment of Mood Disorders during pregnancy, postpartum, & lactation
Prevention
Prenatal Screening
Postpartum Screening
Assessment and Diagnosis
Diagnostic Tools
Teamwork for Integration & Collaboration
Psychotherapeutic Models & TEchniques
Consequences to Mother, Child, & Family of Untreated PPD
... & lots more, with case studies and plenty of time for discussion.

For more info or to register, send email to: seminars (at) beyondtheblues (dot) com or call 408.255.1730.

Posted by Sarah M. at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Heads up for a continuing education opportunity for advocates and professionals in California:

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders:
Assessment & Treatment
February 2-3, 2007 in San Jose

This training is open to anyone who works with pregnant and postpartum women. Discount for Postpartum Support International (PSI) members. CME/CEUs are available for MDs, RNs, PhDs, LCSW/MFTs.

For more info and registration, go to www.beyondtheblues.com and click on "Upcoming Seminars."

Posted by Sarah M. at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fabulous advocate-blogger Katherine Stone has posted this important announcement on Postpartum Progress:

Perinatal Depression Conference in Chicago on November 8

Posted by Sarah M. at 04:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (5)

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.

Posted by Sarah M. at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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!

Posted by Sarah M. at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dr. Dan Siegel (co-author of the fabulous book, Parenting from the Inside Out) will be the guest speaker at an event for maternal-child health, education, and community service professionals next Wednesday, June 21 in L.A.

Siegel will be the keynote at the Los Angeles County First Annual Mental Health Sympsosium, addressing early attachment and how relationships in early childhood affect the development of the brain.

If you're a professional in the field and would like to attend, here's the skinny:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5 to 6:30 p.m., private cocktail reception with Dr. Siegel
Radisson Hotel Whittier
7320 Greenleaf Avenue
Whittier , CA 90602

To register or get more info, go to www.intercommunity.org.

Posted by Sarah M. at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (4)

A new workshop in San Antonio, Texas is helping expectant and new parents prepare for big changes in their lives, with a focus on a new baby's impact on relationships, communication, and emotional wellness.

The two-day Bringing Home Baby event isn't a basics-of-baby-care trainer course. (You probably won't learn how to change a diaper or how to give your slippery little newborn a bath.) Instead, it explores couples' relationships after becoming parents, communication skills for dealing with stress and change, and educates parents to prevent and recognize postpartum depression.

What I like about the sound of this program is its proactive, preventive angle. The concept: Nurture expectant parents in advance of the stressors they will face, and you're nurturing babies at the same time. (Imagine the possibilities!)

Facilitators are San Antonio-area therapists Julie Gowen, LCSW, Mark Jones, D.Min., and Helen Stensrud, L.P.C. - all certified Gottman educators.

The workshops are held on two consecutive Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health at Wurzbach Rd. and Ewing Halsell Dr. Cost is $150 per couple, plus $40 for educational materials.

Upcoming workshop dates are:
June 3 & 10
July 8 & 15
September 16 & 23

Pre-registration is required by calling 210.616.0885. You can also register online at www.ecrh.org.

Posted by Sarah M. at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (6)

Dr. Marlene Freeman, director of the Women's Mental Health Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, will talk about a new treatment for postpartum depression at 3 p.m. today, Friday, May 19, in the auditorium of Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital (350 N. Wilmot Rd.). This briefing is free and open to the public.

A pilot study by Freeman indicates that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce symptoms of depression in women after childbirth. Research indicates that women's stores of omega-3 fatty acids decrease during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Freeman is an assistant professor in the UA departments of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Nutritional Sciences. Her timing is stellar: May 14-20 has been designated Postpartum Depression Awareness Week by the City of Tucson!

Posted by Sarah M. at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (2)