People are always asking me what they can do to help others who are going through postpartum depression, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD … Here's one really cool way to help, triggered by a story I just saw.
The Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library has just received a $5,000 grant from the Jennifer Mae Bowers Memorial Foundation for Postpartum Disorders to enhance its family, pregnancy and parenting collections, including books on postpartum depression.
Apparently Jennifer committed suicide in 2007 while suffering from severe postpartum depression. Another unnecessary tragedy.
So … go to your local library. See if there are books on postpartum depression, or anxiety, or psychosis, or attachment, or women's mental health. If there aren't, donate one. Or two.
Fabulous idea! I think I'll do just that. Thanks Katherine for all you do!
This is a great idea, and how wonderful that they received such a generous grant! Our library is full of a million cookbooks and books on birdwatching – lots of stuff aimed at the retirement communities, and I was SO disappointed with the lack of books on PPD and other PP mood disorders. So, I emailed the library with a list of suggested books, and they will be ordering some of them. All we need to do is speak up!
yes-I've been disappointed with the library resources at my local library, but luckily, I was able to ask for some books to be transferred. the one that helped me the most was Karen Klineman's book. However, I believe it depends where you are with your disease as to what book may be helpful, because at the point, though i'm still suffering, going to a book like that one right now would be bad as it would remind me of the terrible times.
Great post Katherine! One of the reasons I went with the publisher I did for my book on psychosis was because they primarily market to libraries – and I wanted it to be available to as many people as possible. I've since received several calls from women who got it from their library! Yeah! Libraries are still a front line of information for so many people – it is so important to have PPMD books there. BTW: many libraries have budgest or have "Friends of the Library" groups with budgets who take suggestions for books to purchase (and not all will take donated books for their collection). My library has purchased several of the books I've recommended.
Thanks Teresa. If you don't know, Teresa's
book is "Understanding Postpartum Psychosis:
A Temporary Madness". http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Postpartum-Ps…
Most library staff are really approachable
about things like this and welcome making
their collections better and more useful to
their communities.
Birdwatching! Hilarious.
Way to go Sera on taking action with your
library!
Interesting point kmp. Different moms will
react different ways to the content of books.
Some find them helpful and reassuring, while
others may be scared out of their wits by
what they read and just feel worse. I guess
the best thing to do is, if it isn't helpful
put the book down, forget about it and find another one.
Great idea! About two years ago I was searching the area to see what books were available. I called our local Border's Bookstore and found they had nothing! They asked me what books I would recommend and actually now stock them! (I checked, they really do!!) I also received a grant to develop a lending library of postpartum resources available through the hospital where I work. I can mail resources out for free with a postage paid mailer for moms to return them. No, they don't all come back to me, but I KNOW they make a difference!
That's also a great idea Wendy. I usually
have a couple of copies of the postpartum
books I like so that I can lend the extra
to someone in my community who asks. If I
don't get it back it's ok because I still
have a copy.
We decided to donate to the library because it makes the resources available to everyone, for free. A scholorship, for example, would be focused on a very narrow range of people. A donation to a university department would limit the visibility of the books. Now our goal is to draw attention to these resources, so that as many people as possible know that they are available. Perhaps an ad campaign in the local newspapers would help. Any other ideas?
I just discovered this site. Thanks, Katherine for your good work.
Making sure these resources are available to the public is a great thing, especially at libraries. A library is a great place for a woman to go who is scared and unsure and would like to learn more about what she may be going through with a little anonymity. Being able to get information without shame is important. It may allow her to get the courage and data she needs to reach out for professional help. Thanks Jeremy!