Here’s the letter I will be sending out to multitudes of people tomorrow, including most likely you, for Strong Start Day.  I hope that you, too, will consider sending this letter to as many people as possible to urge them to donate to Postpartum Progress Inc. to support women’s health and mental health.  You can make it personal.  Make the letter your own. Talk about your own experience and how Postpartum Progress has helped you.  (Oh, and please let us know if you’re going to reach out!)  PLEASE join us and spread this far and wide this week:

Postpartum Progress needs your help.

I write today because I’m personally asking you to support the work of Postpartum Progress.  I know you have trudged the dark and lonely road of postpartum depression, either as a sufferer, a family member or someone who cares for new mothers.

I must tell you that nothing makes me more anxious or, quite frankly, sick to my stomach, as asking for donations.  Well, one thing makes me sicker: the fact that today only 15% of all women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders ever receive professional treatment.  This means that each year hundreds of thousands more women and their children may suffer from the negative effects of untreated PPD and related illnesses for the rest of their lives.

Postpartum Progress will change that with your help.  We are developing a compelling national awareness campaign for postpartum depression, as well as new and improved patient education materials (the kind new moms won’t throw away!), and new uses of technology to reach suffering moms no matter where they are.

On October 5th, the day when more children are born each year than any other day, I am asking you to do one of three things:

1)   Make a donation to Postpartum Progress.  Any amount is welcome.

2)   Ask at least 2 other people who love you and know what you went through – people who’ve come to know that postpartum depression is real and that all women deserve to have access to the best information and help – to make a donation today in your name.

3)   Refer us to contacts at organizations that can help us with our work.

If you are financially unable to donate, send us your prayers or moral support so that we may find the right people to help us make major change.

Every single person who donates this week will be honored on our website (unless you prefer to remain anonymous).  We are a 501c3, so your donation is tax-deductible.

Today’s the day.  Please help us build stronger families, one mom at a time.