Dear Colleague,
After years of roadblocks and a tenacious misinformation campaign from opponents, on March 23, 2010, the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act was signed into law by President Obama. Included as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress, this will help fund research into and promote awareness of postpartum mood disorders. Specifically, this includes funding for:
- Research into the causes of postpartum depression and clinical research on treatment
- Development of better diagnostic and screening methods
- Public awareness education for health care providers and the general public
- Services for women with postpartum depression and their families
- Comprehensive postpartum mental health conditions information to pregnant and postpartum women
None of these efforts are new to PPD-awareness advocates and our readers, but now funds, although limited, will be allocated to support the researchers, health care providers, and public servants who have long worked to help women with PPD despite little or no funding to support them. Our gratitude and congratulations go out to all of you who have shown your support and especially to Senator Menendez, Congressman Bobby L. Rush, NJ Senate President Richard Cody and leading advocates, Mary Jo Codey, Carol Blocker, Susan Dowd Stone and Katherine Stone. Watch this space for updates on how the provisions in the Act impact PPD in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Medical
Updates
Postpartum depression: how childbirth educators can help break the silence.
Zauderer C.
J Perinat Educ. 2009 Spring;18(2):23-31.
This article explores why women with postpartum depression are reluctant to seek help and how childbirth educators can encourage new mothers to talk about their postpartum depression.
Depressive and anxiety disorders in the postpartum period: how prevalent are they and can we improve their detection?
Austin MP, Hadzi-Pavlovic D, Priest SR, Reilly N, Wilhelm K, Saint K, Parker G.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2010 Mar 16. [Epub ahead of print]
This study examined Composite International Diagnostic Interview period prevalence and comorbidity for depression and anxiety disorder and the benefits of combining the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with an "interval symptom" question to optimize screening postpartum.
Predictors of maternal depression in the first year postpartum: marital status and mediating role of relationship quality.
Akincigil A, Munch S, Niemczyk KC.
Soc Work Health Care. 2010 Mar;49(3):227-44.
Relationship quality is associated with maternal depression after controlling for marital status and other variables that have been documented as risk factors for maternal depression.
View More»
In
The
News
Postpartum depression: Health bill helps mothers in crisis
New Jersey Star Ledger, March 28, 2010
New Jerseyans who long fought for PPD legislation are applauding the passage of the health care bill.
New dads can get the baby blues too
Chicago Tribune, March 18, 2010
Paternal postpartum depression may affect as many as 25% of new dads.
Depressed parents’ negative effects on kids are combatable
Los Angeles Times, March 15, 2010
A growing body of research shows that parental depression can have lasting consequences for children.
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Events
Calendar
Seattle Mom Prom
When: April 10
Where: Seattle, WA
Perinatal Mood Disorders Conference
When: April 15-16
Where: Missoula, MT
3rd Annual Perinatal Mental Health Conference : Cradling Mothers and Babies
When: April 22
Where: Fresno, CA
Med
Ed
Resources
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association is a full-service professional organization representing the nation's Registered Nurses.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Depression During and After Pregnancy: A Resource for Women, Their Families, and Friends
This Web site provides mothers, families, and friends with information about depression during and after pregnancy, what to do about it, and where to find help.
Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University
This resource from Georgetown University contains information on the prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression, identification and treatment, impact on the health and well-being of new mothers and their infants, and implications for service delivery.
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