Postpartum Support International

Register for PSI’s Annual Conference in Seattle This September

By Katherine Stone August 31, 2011

Postpartum Support International will host its 25th annual conference in Seattle on September 16 and 17, in conjunction with PSI of Washington. The theme of the event is “Whole Care for the Whole Family” and it will be held at the Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Seattle. Registration is $395 for PSI members, and $445 for non-members.

The evening of Friday, September 16, will feature the PSI Annual Banquet, with Valerie Plame Wilson as this year’s featured guest speaker. The banquet includes a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner.

On September 14 and 15, they will hold their 2-day certification training, Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care, at the same location. Registration for the training is between $200 and $30o depending on whether you are a member and whether you are also attending the main conference.

To register for any and all of these events, click here.

August 31, 2011 10:42 am Filed Under: Postpartum Depression

PSI Declares May National Maternal Depression Awareness Month

By Katherine Stone May 13, 2011

In what I think is a very smart move, Postpartum Support International has declared May National Maternal Depression Awareness Month. Who needs presidential proclamations or anybody else's permission, right? We deserve a month!

From their press release:

“On the heels of this Mother’s Day, and in an effort to broaden awareness among women, their families and health care providers, Postpartum Support International is declaring May National Maternal Depression Awareness Month, specifically asking women and their families to encourage concerned mothers to ‘Speak Up When You’re Down’. Momentum has been building across the country as more and more states, including California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington have implemented critical educational campaigns and treatment programs to increase awareness and reduce stigma associated with Perinatal Depression,” said Dr. Lucy Puryear, president, Postpartum Support International.

Dr. Puryear continued, “My hope is that by declaring it National Maternal Depression Awareness Month, we will see more women and their families across the country having the courage to speak up and ask questions about risk factors and triggers, and receive the care they may need during the most transformative period of their lives.”

Untreated depression is the number one complication of pregnancy and yet research shows that many new mothers are not asked about feeling depressed or anxious during their pregnancy by a health care provider. When a woman is able to become adequately informed, screened or treated for maternal depression, not only is her individual suffering alleviated but the chances for positive outcomes for her baby, and entire family is greatly improved.

May 13, 2011 4:29 pm Filed Under: Awareness

Mark Your Calendars for Spring Events Supporting PPD Advocacy

By Katherine Stone April 13, 2011

There are many, many events coming up this Spring that you need to know about, and this is the post where I list several of them, so get ready to mark your calendars:

Tickets are now on sale for the 13th Annual Wade Bowen Classic Concert and Golf Tournament, which benefits Postpartum Support International. The event will be held in Waco, Texas, on May 15th and 16th. The 15th will feature a concert, and a golf tournament will be held on the 16th. This event raises a lot of money for PSI, so make sure to support it. You can get all the details here: http://www.wadebowen.com/classic/

South Carolina's Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation will host its annual PPD run on May 7, 2011, at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in South Carolina. Please visit their newly designed website atwww.ppdsupport.orgto learn more about the run and/or to pre-register.

Oregon's Baby Blues Connection will host its "Do You Believe In Magic?" 60s-themed benefit on May 7th, 2011, at 825 NW 8th Ave. in Portland from 7 to 10pm. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased here.

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Mother's Day Rally for Moms' Mental Health on May 8th, here atPostpartum Progressfrom 12:01am to 11:59pm. It rocks the casbah. Or the house. Or your world. Or all of the above.

Washington state's PSI of Washington will be the beneficiary of Seattle Mom Prom event on May 21, 2011, from 8pm to midnight at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center in Seattle. Tickets are $25-35 in advance and $40 at the door.For more information and to buy tickets for this fun ladies' night out, click here.

New York's Sounds of Silence Foundation will host its 3rd Annual Run/Walk to support the Postpartum Resource Center of New York on May 21, 2011, at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York. To get register, click here.

April 13, 2011 9:29 am Filed Under: Awareness

Carnie Wilson To Perform At PSI Bright Lights Winter Gala

By Katherine Stone January 13, 2011

This Saturday night, Postpartum Support International will host its Bright Lights Winter Gala Celebration at 7pm at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The event will feature singer songwriter Carnie Wilson, a survivor of postpartum depression.

“In the past, I have been open about surviving postpartum depression,” says Carnie. “When Los Angeles County launched the ‘Speak Up When You’re Down’ Campaign last spring, I realized that I needed to speak up even more to lift the veil of stigma about this terrible illness so I’m making a plea to the medical community in Los Angeles to start recognizing this as a legitimate illness that must be screened for and treated just like gestational diabetes or Down syndrome as it affects every pregnant mom, her baby and her family. The chemistry in my uterus caused contractions making them real so why is the chemistry in my brain not regarded the same way?”

The PSI Gala will also include a brief program featuring LA Best Babies Network (LABBN), an organization dedicated to achieving healthy pregnancies and births in Los Angeles County by providing the infrastructure, programs, advocacy and support to increase the capacity of community partners to succeed in these efforts.

If you'd like to attend, visit www.postpartum.net.

January 13, 2011 12:26 pm Filed Under: Celebrities With PPD, Postpartum Depression

Get Tickets For PSI’s Bright Lights Winter Gala in LA in January

By Katherine Stone November 16, 2010

Do you support the work of Postpartum Support International? Do you like sunny California in January? If so, considering attending the PSI Bright Lights Winter Gala on January 15th at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

On Friday Jan. 14th, PSI’s One-Day Perinatal Mood Disorder Training will be presented by expert faculty Birdie Meyer, RN, MA, CLC and Diana Barnes, PsyD, LMFT. On Saturday evening, Jan. 15th, PSI will host the Bright Lights Winter Gala Fundraising Event.The Biltmore Hotel is offering PSI guests great discounted rates anytime from Jan.11 – 18th, and they really hope you can take some time to visit! The PSI Board will have their annual board meeting at the Biltmore that weekend and will be attending the party as well. They’re looking forward to having time to gather with PSI friends, members, and volunteers. They’d love to see you in LA for this great opportunity to learn, network, enjoy fine food and good company, hear an inspiring special guest speaker, and raise funds while having fun at the Saturday Casino Night!

Visit the PSI website page below for a link to Registration and more information.
http://postpartum.net/News-and-Events/January-2011-Training-Bright-Lights-Winter-Party.aspx
Make your Biltmore Hotel reservations by December 15th for the guaranteed discounted rate.

November 16, 2010 12:08 pm Filed Under: Awareness

PSI Sponsors Walk To Washington

By Katherine Stone July 30, 2010

On August 14, Steve Curran, a suicide survivor, will take his first step on a 50-day, 835 mile Walk to Washington to raise awareness for depression. The Walk is the dream-child of Curran, who has suffered with depression for most of his adult life. He was first diagnosed in the early 1980s and has lived as best he could between the gaps of his depression. Medications and therapy helped, but 5 years ago, in debt, estranged from his wife and family, he took what he felt was a lethal mix of alcohol laced with tranquilizer and prepared to die. His attempt failed. His survival turned his life around.

"Sadly," Curran says, "many people who live with depression suffer in silence and do not seek treatment. We want to let them know that this is a very treatable illness. The Walk to Washington will encourage lawmakers to support better treatment options and put policies in place to help. We will pierce the silence with our Walk."

The Walk will begin in St. Louis and will conclude on National Depression Screening Day (October 7) with an Arrival Ceremony on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Curran will deliver a petition with 1 million signatures to legislators to show the determination of this advocacy movement and to ask for Congress to put into law policies that address prevention, early intervention, treatment and research related to depression. (To sign the petition, click here.)

Postpartum Support International is a sponsor of the Walk To Washington, and joins Steve Curran in advocating for more action on identifying people suffering with depression and helping them get professional treatment. Research shows that only half of people with depression ever get the treatment they need. "Many Shades of Blue", a PSI support group in Dayton, OH, will be hosting a community rally as the Walk goes through Dayton on September 4th.

July 30, 2010 11:31 am Filed Under: Causes

PSI Seeking Submissions of Susan A. Hickman Research Award

By Katherine Stone July 27, 2010

The Susan A. Hickman Memorial Research Award of $500 is given each year by Postpartum Support International to an individual involved in a scholarly research project that contributes to the field of perinatal mental health. The award is meant to foster the interest of beginning researchers in the conduct of scientific investigation and knowledge development about perinatal mental health and psychiatric illness, andwas named in honor of PSI Board member Susan A. Hickman following her sudden death. The official announcement of the award will be made in October 2010 at the annual PSI Conference held in conjunction with the Marce Society in Pittsburgh, PA.

Candidates for the research award should: 1) be a master’s, doctoral, post-doctoral or a junior research faculty member with affiliation with an accredited institution of higher education, and 2) be a member of Postpartum Support International. The research must be related to issues of perinatal mental health.

For information on the submission requirements, click here. The deadline for submissions is August 15, 2010.Submissionpackets should be sent to:
Ruta Nonacs, M.D
1105 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 1-D
Cambridge, Ma 02138

You can also send questions or packets by email to Ruta at rnonacs@yahoo.com.

July 27, 2010 7:54 am Filed Under: Causes

Father And Employer Now Working To Help All Mothers With Postpartum Depression

By Katherine Stone July 7, 2010

Following is the story of James Stanley, a father whose daughter has postpartum depression, and what he's now doing to help support her as well as moms with PPD everywhere. Just AWESOME. Read this and learn how you can help him.

My postpartum depression story started six years ago after my daughter finished college, married a nice young man, and started bearing children in her mid-twenties.The introduction of my first grandson was a very happy time for the entire family.The baby was certainly the new center of attention as is the case most of the time, especially with the first born. The little guy certainly had his grandparents wrapped around his little finger.

Unfortunately a few months after the baby was born we started noticing signs of unexplained sadness and irritability in my daughter. This was very uncharacteristic of her, but after a time it seemed to pass. Three years later my daughter gave birth to her second son and the same pattern of deep sadness and irrational irritability returned. During this period she began having problems getting along with the family, her boss and coworkers on the job. Again, this was very uncharacteristic of my daughter and we were at a loss to understand what was happening. Apparently her employer did not understand either. She didn't keep that job.

By the time the third child arrived things had gotten out of control for her. Her personality had become explosive. My son-in-law seemed badly effected also. He was no longer the pleasant young man that I once knew. He seemed to blame everybody around his wife for her condition even though she was told by professionals that she was suffering from posptartum depression. So devastated by this, I was seeking answers online to explain what was happening. By now my wife and I were suffering deep depression over this too. Nothing made sense. I joined a Yahoo group called PostpartumMentalIllness looking for answers. I met a woman there who had experienced many of the same feelings after childbirth. This lady, Lauren Hale, is a coordinator for Postpartum Support International (PSI). After many hours of personal conversation, I started to understand. I cannot even begin to tell someone how valuable this information was to me. At least I was able to sleep again at night, and sleep deprivation was indeed beginning to affect my performance at work. I couldn't afford to lose my job in this economy.

So impressed by Lauren's work, I wanted to make a difference too. It's just by chance at this time that I am a member of my employer's Luminant Diversity Council. The Diversity Council's mission is to promote positive community relations and create a favorable environment for all of their employees. The Diversity Council does a lot of great work raising money for non-profit causes.

So, I introduced PSI to Luminant's Diversity Council to see if this was a cause that they would like to support, not only for the good of the community but for the mental health of it's own employees, because 1 in 11 families are affected by PPD. After viewing a DVD about PPD and meeting via teleconference with PSI representatives Birdie Meyer and Lucy Puryear, the council voted to host a golf tournament fundraiser at the Star Ranch Gold Course this August (see details below) to help PSI continue their work. Needless to say, I am delighted.

In closing I would like to say that my daughter is receiving treatment. That's good. My son-in-law still blames everybody else for his wife's condition, including my wife and I, but I hope that in time he will come around to understand.

I would like to invite everyone who can come to turn out for the golf tournament. It's important that families and employers understand what is happening in cases like mine. And I'm very proud of Luminant for recognizing the need and wanting to help. The Diversity Council would also like to invite other businesses and corporations to partner with Luminant by becoming a co-sponsor for this event. It's such a worthy cause.

Luminant's Sandow/Three Oaks Diversity Advisory Council 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, August 7th at the Golf Club Star Ranch in Hutto, TX (near Austin). The entry fee is $75 per player and $300 per team if you register by July 27th. The entry fee includes lunch, golf cart, range balls and drink coupons. Mulligans can also be purchased. Prizes will be awarded to top finishers, and random drawings will be made for additional winners. To learn more or to register, click here. You can also contact Debi Mikulencak at 512-446-8992.

To help Luminant support PSI, your company can help sponsor this event. There is a wide variety of sponsorship options. To learn more, click here.

Also, we welcome assistance from PSI supporterswho would like to donate a gift certificate or gift card from a national chainfor use asauction itemsor prizes at the golf tournament.

July 7, 2010 9:00 am Filed Under: Causes

How Many People Are Working to Help You Get Better? A LOT!

By Katherine Stone April 22, 2010

Wendy Davis, Postpartum Support International's program director, pointed at that it's Volunteer Week this week. She shared what I thought were some really cool statistics about the volunteers who make PSI shine. PSI has:

126 US state coordinators

47 International coordinators

2 Dads coordinators

4 military family support coordinators

1 online coordinator

1 legal coordinator

11 English warmline volunteers

10 Spanish warmline volunteers

8 Telephone "Chat with the Experts" volunteers

12 volunteer Board members

27 President's Advisory Council volunteers

All of those people work extremely hard to support women and their families through perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and they are ALL volunteers. This doesn't even count all the people in associated state organizations and foundations around the world who also work so hard to help you.

I'm proud to be associated with PSI and many of these other organizations as well.

April 22, 2010 9:46 am Filed Under: Postpartum Depression Treatment

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition Launches Free Educational Texting Service for Pregnant Women & New Moms

By Katherine Stone February 4, 2010

Exciting news just launching today!

Text4baby is a new, free mobile information service providing timely health information to pregnant women and new moms from pregnancy through a baby's first year.An educational program ofthe National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides participants with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life.

Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) will receive three free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby's date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including prevention of birth defects, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health [YES!!!!], oral health and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

"We believe the power of partnership and community can make an incredible difference in women's and children's lives," said Judy Meehan, executive director of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. "Text4baby brings HMHB's mission to life and with the help of our partners, we believe we can be a strong catalyst for change."

I am thrilled to say that Postpartum Support International (PSI)is an outreachpartner of text4baby. Texts related to moms' mental health will connect women to PSI resources. Other outreach partners include state and local health departments, community health centers, WIC programs, health plans, major medical associations and nonprofit organizations dedicated to the health of mothers, babies and families.

"Postpartum Support International is proud to be a part of text4baby," said Birdie Gunyon Meyer, president of PSI. "Mobile health services around the world have demonstrated the ability to help change patient behavior and improve health outcomes, and we believe that this program can have a significant impact on maternal and child health in our country."

Here arejust a fewexamples of the texts thatpregnant women and motherswho opt in to this program will receive:

Breastfeeding gives babies a great start! Call 1-800-311-BABY (2229) to learn about help in your community for breastfeeding moms.

Your state offers free/low-cost health care for moms & babies. Call 877-543-7669 to ask if you qualify. Call 800-311-BABY (2229) to connect to care.

Next week your baby is 6 months old! Call the Dr. for a checkup. She will get shots protecting her from deadly diseases like pneumonia and meningitis.

If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless, call the Dr. or 800-944-4773. Postpartum depression can happen any time in the 1st year after having a baby.

Each year in the US, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday — signifying a public health crisis. The infant mortality rate in the US is one of the highest in the industrialized world, and for the first time since the 1950s, that rate is on the rise. Research shows that while 90 percent of Americans have a mobile phone, fewer have access to the internet, and texting is more prevalent among women of childbearing age.

Text4baby is made possible through an unprecedented public-private partnership which includes the White House Office on Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Voxiva, CITA-The Wireless Foundation, Grey Healthcare Group (a WPP company) and founding corporate sponsor Johnson & Johnson. Premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and wireless carriers that are distributing the text messages at no charge to recipients.

The text4baby wireless carriers are voluntarily providing the critical communications link of the initiative, distributing text messages to recipients at no charge. Participating carriers include: Alltel, AT&T, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Metro PCS, N-Telos, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Virgin Mobile.

For more information about text4baby, please contact HMHB at (703) 797-1945 or info@text4baby.org.

Update 2pm: Here's a link to the White House blog writing about text4baby today.Just receivedlink from HMHB.

Update 4pm: The website for text4baby is now fully up and functioning. I don't think it was this am. So go check it out.