Postpartum Progress News

Special Discount on Daily Hope Throughout May

By Katherine Stone May 2, 2012 1 Comment

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Soon it will be Women’s Health Awareness Week. Plus Mother’s Day. So … Hopeful World Publishing is helping us celebrate by offering a discount for subscriptions to the year-long series Daily Hope, created for moms with postpartum depression and anxiety.

Each message is from me, delivered via email daily, and designed to help you get through this difficult time and feel supported and understood. Daily Hope is normally $49 for an annual subscription, but Hopeful World Publishing is offering a 20% discount for those who subscribe in May.

To get the discount when subscribing, use code 3399B to register here now through May 31, 2012.

If you or a friend are suffering from postpartum depression, this is a wonderful way to give or receive ongoing support. Find out more about Daily Hope here. If postpartum support is a cause that speaks to you, know that 10% of all the registration fees for Daily Hope go directly to Postpartum Progress. Even if you don’t register now, consider making a donation to the Daily Hope Scholarship Fund. Send funds via Paypal to help@hopefulworld.org with “Daily Hope Scholarship” in the subject and they’ll be able to provide this service to all the moms who are in need.

May 2, 2012 9:37 am Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News

How To Get Your Story, Event or News Published on Postpartum Progress

By Katherine Stone April 17, 2012 2 Comments

I hope you don’t mind a little housekeeping chat, but this is really important. Especially for those of you who run PPD support organizations, or who are volunteers or professionals with news to share, or are moms who want to share their stories, or are researchers. Which means pretty much all of you.

I have a dream that one day we’ll be able to raise enough money to be more than one person, but for now it’s just me. Me, and some freaking amazing contributors and guest posters for whom I am ridiculously grateful — especially Kate Kripke, Kimberly Morand and Robin Farr — because without them I have no idea where we’d be. Still, we all work on a volunteer basis to keep this amazing resource called Postpartum Progress going.

If you have a piece of news, or an event or a PPD story, you want it on Postpartum Progress. That’s awesome given how many years it took me to convince all of you that you should share your news with us. I’m so very glad and honored that you want Postpartum Progress to cover it. I couldn’t be more thrilled about that.

At the same time, I notice you get frustrated with me if you don’t hear back, or if I don’t cover your story. Sooo … I want to share some basic guidelines about Postpartum Progress so you can get a better idea of what I respond and don’t respond to, how long it takes, how to get your events listed, etc. I’m hoping you’ll find this guide helpful. [Read more...]

April 17, 2012 4:22 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News

Warrior Mom Pride

By Katherine Stone November 9, 2011

You’ve been asking. Warrior Mom t-shirts. Postpartum Progress coffee mugs. Car decals. Tattoos. Warrior Mom charms. You’ve asked and asked and I’ve taken forever. I’m really sorry. But, we’re finally getting somewhere …

I have some t-shirt designs that are really awesome, and Cristi from Mother Unadorned has taken over creating a new Postpartum Progress store for us. It will feature all the Warrior Mom merchandise you’ve asked us for, PLUS 100% of the net proceeds will go to our nonprofit. Buy stuff that shows your Warrior Mom pride and donate to a charity? What could be better?!

If you’d like to help Cristi with this monumental task, give her a shout. Or if there are things you’d like to see available in the store, let us know. You can email her at cristi@ellieadorn.com. Amber from Beyond Postpartum has also been working on a charm so that we can have one like the one we wrote about here.

Here’s one of the t-shirt designs. (darnitall, you can’t see the back. ugh. anyway, it’s just the URL.)

November 9, 2011 12:43 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Progress News

Upcoming Events on Postpartum Depression: Come See Me in NJ and TN!

By Katherine Stone October 15, 2011

Over the next two weeks, I will be doing two speeches on postpartum depression and related perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I wanted to let you know in case you are nearby and would like to attend:

The first is Wednesday, October 19th. I’ll be speaking at the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative conference on perinatal mood disorders. The event will be held at the Doubletree Suites in Mt. Laurel, NJ, and will feature great speakers including Margaret Howard, PhD, director of the Postpartum Depression Day Hospital of Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and Margaret Altemus, MD, director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

I will also be speaking on Friday, October 28th in Knoxville, TN, at the 14th annual Fall Psychiatric Symposium, sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health, the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, among others. This event is being held at the Knoxville Marriott and will feature speakers on everything from how fibromyalgia affects mental health to addiction to … postpartum depression!

If you are a healthcare provider, please note that continuing education credits are available at both events.

October 15, 2011 1:54 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Progress News

Bloggers Unite To Support Women With Postpartum Depression & Raise Funds

By Katherine Stone October 4, 2011

We’re getting ready for Strong Start Day tomorrow.

So happy to tell you about all the wonderful bloggers who will be supporting us in this effort to raise money for Postpartum Progress Inc to help women with postpartum depression. I am really so humbled and thrilled they have agreed to take the time to support our work by writing a post tomorrow, October 5th, to help raise money to support women with postpartum depression.

If you can join by writing something in support of Postpartum Progress Inc. this week and linking to our donation page (maintained by Network for Good), please do! I’ll be more than happy to add you to the list below! If you’re not on the list, please be assured I want you on it. I haven’t heard back from quite a few people. (Damn spam folders.)

[Read more...]

October 4, 2011 9:30 am Filed Under: Awareness, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Progress News

Why Americans Don’t Want To Discuss Depression With Their Doctors

By Katherine Stone September 16, 2011

A fascinating new study finds that a large chunk of Americans would rather not discuss symptoms of depression with their doctors.

According to Health.com, “43% of people would keep their depression symptoms to themselves during a doctor’s appointment, because they feel their emotional difficulties are off-topic, they don’t want to be prescribed antidepressants, or they’re afraid a record of the conversation will be seen by employers … Respondents also expressed fear about being referred to a specialist or being labeled a ‘psychiatric patient’.”

[Read more...]

September 16, 2011 11:55 am Filed Under: Medication, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Depression Treatment, Postpartum Progress News

Postpartum Progress Needs Your Input (WARRIOR MOM ALERT!!!) (BLOGGER ALERT!!)

By Katherine Stone June 30, 2011

***WARRIOR MOM ALERT*** ***WARRIOR MOM ALERT*** ***WARRIOR MOM ALERT*** ***SERIOUSLY***

Alright, Warrior Moms and friends of Postpartum Progress. We need to do some serious work together. Since this is EVERYONE's blog — mine AND YOURS — I need your participation. ASAP. I don't care if you always comment or you are a lurker, I want to hear your voice.

We are about to embark on a massive project. Postpartum Progress has been on the blog host Typepad since the day we started in 2004. Sadly,Typepad was sold and now seems to be going the way of the dodo bird. I'm going to have to spend a couple thousand dollars (oh my God somebody save me!!!!!!!!!) and have it redesigned and migrated over to WordPress. I hope this will result in a better functioning and spiffier Postpartum Progress. I do not want to spend thousands of dollars and do this wrong. That would be a monumental disaster. So I need your input.

This is very important. If you don't speak up or participate, I can't make sure that Postpartum Progress is what you want it to be and that your voices and ideas are properly represented here.

Your assignment? Answer the following:

In terms of the design, what would you change?
Which sidebars (on the left and right-hand side) or content tabs (at the top, directly under our logo) would you get rid of?
Which sidebars or content tabs would you rename so they make more sense to the new visitor?
What things would you like to see added? It could be a new function, a new section, a new idea? Lay it on me!
How can we make this site more functional?
What drives you crazy/frustrates you about Postpartum Progress, if anything?

Do not censor yourself. Throw whatever thoughts and ideas you have my way, big or small. If you're uncomfortable putting them in the comments section, email me at postpartumprogress@gmail.com or stonecallis@gmail.com. I can't wait to hear from you!!

I can't promise that I'm going to be able to take every suggestion, but I'm going to do my best to incorporate everyone's input. Let's make sure we have a highly usable site for the moms who need help, and the people who care for them (dads, docs, therapists, etc.). Let's make sure we continue to kick stigma's ass.

Note, this will mean that Postpartum Progress, for the first time ever, will be shut down for about a week or so. Probably in August or September. I'm going to need your help to not have a complete heart attack while that is happening.

Also …

Our job is to make sure moms everywhere can see that ANY mom can get a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Have you recovered? Do you want to inspire others? If so, have you sent in your picture for the Surviving & Thriving Mother's Photo Album? If not, please do so. We NEED you. I WANT your face represented here. We're going to redesign the album so that it fits in with the look and feel of Postpartum Progress (something Typepad does not allow us to do).

And, have you checked to make sure your support group is listed on the support group page? Or that we have the right information? If not, please do. What do I need to add, change or delete?

Thank you in advance for taking action, friends. You are what makes Postpartum Progress tick.

June 30, 2011 1:11 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News

Postpartum Progress Wins 2011 Mental Health Media Award from MHA

By Katherine Stone June 6, 2011

I’m traveling to Washington DC on Friday to go to the Mental Health America annual conference. I’m very excited to be able to share the reason for my trip: Postpartum Progress won a 2011 Media Award.

On Saturday at the awards banquet, MHA will present the 16 winners of the 2011 Media Awards, given for “outstanding coverage and portrayals of mental health issues during the previous year”. Below is a list of all of the winners. I’m so honored that Postpartum Progress is among these fellow honorees I can hardly stand it! (CNN?! Sports Illustrated? Self! Seriously?!) I’m also extremely proud that postpartum depression is represented among the awards, as I hope it helps us continue to spread awareness.

Mental Health America (formerly called the National Mental Health Association) is the nation’s largest and oldest organization helping Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthy lives. With more than 300 affiliates across the country, they touch the lives of millions.

2011 MHA Media Awards

Student Journalism:Jonathan Michels,“Dix patients fear losing safety net”,reesenews.org

Coverage of a Mental Health Issue:Pablo S. Torre,“A Light in the Darkness”,Sports Illustrated

National Magazines:Rachel Aviv,“Which Way Madness Lies: Can psychosis be prevented?”,Harper’s Magazine

Blogs:Katherine Stone,“The Six Stages of Postpartum Depression”,PostpartumProgress.com

National Radio:Amy Bracken,“Haiti’s Traumatized Earthquake Survivors”,PRI’s The World

National Television:Paul Allen,”This Emotional Life”,Vulcan Productions

Local Radio:Gabriel Spitzer,“As State Cuts Aid, a Scramble to Get Benefits for Homeless”,WBEZ (Chicago, IL)

First Person Account of a Mental Health Issue:Lauren Slater, Writer; Paula Derrow, Articles Director;“Would You Rather Be Fat and Happy or Thin and Sad”,SELF Magazine

Coverage of Mental Health Research:Roxanne Khamsi,“Timing is everything”,Nature Medicine

Documentary:Delaney Ruston, MD,”Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia”,MyDoc Productions

Local/Regional Magazines:Joel Warner,“Martial Law”,Westword

Local/Regional Websites:Aaron Glantz,Coverage of Veterans Mental Health Issues,The Bay Citizen

Portrayal of Persons with a Mental Health Condition:Bob Drury,“Invisible Soldiers”,Women’s Health

National Websites:Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent; Sabriya Rice, CNN Medical Producer,“How to save a friend from the brink”,CNNhealth.com-The Empowered Patient

Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000:Meg Kissinger and Steve Schultze,“Patients in Peril”,Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)

Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000:Mary Ann Ford and Edith Brady-Lunny,“Recovery Court” series,The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL)

June 6, 2011 11:41 am Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News, PPD in the Media

Drop Kick Despair With Postpartum Progress

By Katherine Stone May 18, 2011

Several of you have asked me if you could publish public service ads on your own sites for Postpartum Progress Inc., and let me say how grateful I am that you asked. Hugs and love and sloppy kisses for all you do to spread the word.

So, with the very limited skill I have in design, I tried to create a few. You can use any that you like, and you can resize them if you need to, as long as they're still readable.

If you have a website or blog and are willing to support our nonprofit work by placing one of these badges there (say, in a sidebar, empty ad space or on a PPD resource page), see below for the designs and embed code. Anyone who clicks on the badges will be taken to our nonprofit website.

Do you like any of these? Hate? Have ideas yourself. Share!! Send me your own idea for a design or give me feedback on what's here!

Embed Code for 275 x 201 "drop kick despair" button:

Embed code for 275 x 180 "Broken Mind" Display Ad:

End of the Tunnel Display Ad (300 x 200)

Embed Code for 300 x 225 Heart in Storm Clouds Ad

Embed Code for 150 x 173 Warrior Mom Get Help Button

May 18, 2011 10:07 am Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News, Postpartum Progress the Non-Profit

Come See Me In San Diego & Connect With Amazing Women @ BlogHer ’11!

By Katherine Stone May 10, 2011

I'm not sure if I've officially announced this yet or not, so here it is: I'm speaking at BlogHer '11 in San Diego! Yay!

Those of you who are not bloggers are probably wondering what the heck I'm blabbing on about. BlogHer is the world's largest community of women bloggers and it rocks. I have worked with them for a long time and they have been incredibly supportive of our cause and of women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. (Hi Rita, Jenna, Denise, Lisa, Elisa, Jory, Morgan, etc!) They have a conference every year that also rocks. This year, I will be one of the speakers at BlogHer '11(August 5 & 6).

If you haven't been to a BlogHer conference, I will tell you I think they are a blast. I've been to two and had a great time, and connected with so many amazing women. In fact last year, a bunch of the attendees who've survived perinatal mood and anxiety disorders got together to make a quick video for the readers of Postpartum Progress.

ALSO, I am participating in a new event this year called Pathfinder Day (August 4th). It happens the day before the conference and requires separate registration. It's for those of you who DO blog and who are ready to take it to the next level. (Awwww yeah!) If you want to turn your blog into a book, a media empire, a change agent or a business, this day is for you socheck out more info about it here.

May 10, 2011 2:26 pm Filed Under: Postpartum Progress News