Monday, June 21, 2010

Partnership with Mental Health America of GA to expand resources in Atlanta and the state of GA

I am thrilled to share with you that I will be working with Mental Health America of Georgia regularly in the area of Perinatal Mental Health.  What that looks like is still TBD, but for now we are getting started on work to expand resources, including peer support, so that moms all over metro Atlanta, and eventually Georgia will have plenty of tools at their fingertips should they be confronted with a PMD.  Here's the announcement that is currently posted on MHA of GA's homepage:
A recent article in Obgyn.net stated that "despite the recent growth in publicity, postpartum depression is still all too often unrecognized or cavalierly dismissed. However, this common disorder is readily diagnosed and treated by the primary care physician who is willing to take the most basic measures." (For the complete article, click here)

In an effort to increase awareness and education, encourage the use of depression screening tools and improve the availability of effective treatment and support services that promote maternal mental health, certain areas of the country declared May as Perinatal Mental Health month.

Actress Brooke Shields and Senator Robert Menendez (R-NJ) were recently among participants at a press conference announcing the passage of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act which will also help to educate mothers and their families about these conditions as well as support research into the causes, diagnoses and treatments for postpartum depression and psychosis.


The statistics speak for themselves.  Between 15 and 20 percent of all women experience some form of pregnancy-related depression or anxiety.  A recent article in the Seattle times quoted a study in the AMA Journal which found that 10.4 percent of men experienced serious depression at some point between his partner's first trimester and one year after childbirth, more than double the depression rate for men in general. (For the complete article, click here).

MHA of GA is in the process of expanding our work in this area and we are pleased that Amber Koter-Puline is partnering with us as we move this initiative forward.  Amber is the author of the blog Beyond Postpartum, website author of Postpartum Healing and is a facilitator of the Atlanta Postpartum Support Group.

More information on this expanded program will be available soon.  However, if you would like to know more now, please contact Sarah Schwartz at sarah@mhageorgia.org.
From the MHA website: Mental Health America of Georgia (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association of Georgia) is our state's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all Georgians live mentally healthier lives.  With our state-wide affiliates, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of everyone in our state, emphasizing mental health as a critical component of a healthy lifestyle.