I said I would speak out on the ridiculous campaign being waged through petitions and blogs right now to block passage of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act … so here goes (hold on to your hats, folks):

I am truly peeved and disappointed at the breathless, hysterical ranting going on about the MOTHERS Act. Many of those who oppose it seem to have done LITTLE to NOTHING to inform themselves about the actual bill and the organizations that support it. Falsehoods are being spread. Here are some examples:

"A federal bill that is dangerous to mothers and their newborns but being promoted under the guise of ensuring that ‘new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services …’ This is quite simply false … it will push more mothers onto dangerous antidepressant drugs …"

"If this bill is passed, any money spent on screening will be a complete waste of tax dollars. The results will be an INCREASE in the severity and frequency of postpartum depression and an increase in violence and suicide."

"This legislation will ensure that new mothers and their families are also subjected to such treatment as they are screened for symptoms and provided so called ‘help’ that pushes these new mothers over the edge."

"The bill was originally proposed in response to the death by suicide of Melanie Stokes, a pharmaceutical rep. who took her own life by leaping from a balcony several stories off of the ground. Contrary to popular understanding it was not post-partum depression that killed Melanie, but the numerous antidepressant drugs she was taking …"

I’m not sure what algorithm they’re using that would indicate that doing more to identify and treat these illnesses would lead to more PPD — is this the new math they’re teaching in schools? And I have no idea how in good conscience they could spread lies about Melanie Blocker Stokes when her fearless and amazing mother Carol has worked so hard to get legislation like this passed so that other mothers can avoid the pain she has had to endure in losing her daughter.

Now I know standards dictate that I don’t share with you what these people are saying because it somehow gives them a voice. But I’m blowing up the standards today, because I think my readers need to know exactly what is being said, so that you can be moved to speak up about it and defend the importance of the MOTHERS Act. (One of the organizations behind this push is CCHR. CCHR is the Church of Scientology. Need I say more?)

The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act does NOT recommend drugs or require drugs or endorse drugs. What is does is the following:

• Encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions.
• Encourage a national public awareness campaign to be administered by HHS to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.
• Encourage HHS to make grants available for projects for the establishment, operation and coordination of systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression.

There is no nefarious undercurrent, no plot by "the man." The simple point is to continue to look into the causes of postpartum mood disorders, to let people know they exist and to provide better support services for the women who have them and their families. Period, the end. Every woman has the choice to decline participation in a screening, and every woman has the choice to look at all of the various treatment options available to her and choose the best one for her, whether it includes medication, therapy, alternative treatments, support groups or some combination thereof.

Do I agree that we must be careful to only treat those who are ill? Of course. Do I agree that we must be careful in the types of treatments that are used, and must recognize the risks of taking certain treatments as well as the risks of not taking them? Of course. But I will not allow fearful conspiracy theorists to derail what is most important, which is getting our country’s healthcare system to eliminate the stigma of mental illness, recognize the prevalence of postpartum mood disorders, learn more about their cause, allow new mothers who are suffering to feel safe in getting professional help and identify the best and safest treatments possible.

Please add your thoughts. Scroll to the bottom of this post and look for the comments link to speak out. C’mon girls – USE YOUR VOICE.

Here are links to other great comments about the opposition and the importance of supporting the MOTHERS Act. If I’ve missed your response, let me know and I’ll add it to this list.

• Susan Stone, President of PSI – this is so beautifully written – you MUST read it
• Spin Me I Pulsate
• Buoy for Perinatal Blues & Beyond
• Postpartum Perspective
• Unexpected Blessing/Sharing the Journey
• Depression Introspection