In the Media

THANK YOU, ROGER Roger Ebert June 1942 - April 4, 2013   August 14, 2011 - Postpartum Depression Clinic: The First of Its Kind NPR - On Monday, August 15, a University of North Carolina hospital in Chapel Hill will open the country's first free-standing perinatal psychiatry unit. Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, who directs the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders, says everything in the new ward is geared to help women with postpartum depression. There are breast pumps and comfortable rocking chairs, individual therapy and family therapy. Babies will have extended visiting hours so that mom and child can create a routine, even while mom is hospitalized. It's the kind of treatment, she says, these women should expect. "Not in the middle of the heart clinic," Meltzer-Brody says, "not in the middle of a different ward, but in a specialty ward that takes care of women during pregnancy and postpartum." "We think that the mental health services for the people that need it also needs to be appropriate." Read the full article. May 17, 2011 - Helping Kids Beat Depression...By Treating Mom Wall Street Journal - About half of kids with depressed mothers develop the condition—three times the typical risk. Sadness isn't the only symptom. Children of depressed mothers are more likely to be anxious, irritable and disruptive than other kids. A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry in March shows, however, that when a mother's depression is successfully treated, her children get progressively better, too—even a year after the treatment ends. And the faster she responds to treatment, the faster her children do, as well. Read the full article. May 16, 2011 - When Mama Ain't Happy Wall Street Journal - Michelle Gerdes discusses the effects a mother's depression can have on her children--identifying this is one more catalyst for women suffering from depression, such as PPD, to get the help that they need. Read the full article. "Medical schools need to do better to train all physicians on the identification and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Training programs in the primary care specialties can and should cover these issues properly. If these programs could be convinced to do a good job with this (and I think they could be), this would go a lot further toward helping more women, no matter where they live, no matter what insurance, no matter if they have empowerment, no matter if they have clout. Which meds can be used in pregnancy, in breastfeeding, etc., should not be special knowledge. It should be normal knowledge. With 15% of moms getting PPD this is not a special disease. It's a normal disease. I want it to be a normal part of training for normal docs that a normal patient can access in a normal way. Then the specialists will be available to focus on the truly difficult cases.” - Quote found on www.postpartumprogress.com: February 11, 2011 - Making the Text-to-Mom Connection New York Times - The "Text4Baby Program" is a free service that sends text messages to pregnant women, or new moms, to provide them with useful health tips. Hundreds of organizations collaborated to make the program work. In this article, author David Bornstein asks, "How do you get a country — with all its diverse institutional strengths — to work as a team?" Read the full article. October 28, 2010 - NIMH Presents "Fresh Perspectives in Perinatal Depression Research" Workshop NIMH spotlights the topic of perinatal depression research in an October 2010 workshop. The purpose of the Fresh Perspectives in Perinatal Depression Research Workshop was to encourage innovative research in postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders. Participants such as MedEdPPD Director Brian Shanahan and advisory board members Drs. Katherine Wisner and Linda Chaudron discussed ways to optimize the use of currently available treatments based on a better understanding of individual differences among women. NIMH Director, Thomas R. Insel, MD, discussed current research underway and new treatments on the horizon. He emphasized that the "need for alternatives, better treatments, and better delivery of services is great."  To read more, see Dr. Insel's Spotlight on Postpartum Depression blog. October 25, 2010 - American Academy of Pediatrics Urges Pediatricians to Screen New Mothers for Depression By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer Chicago (AP) - An influential medical group says pediatricians should routinely screen new mothers for depression. Depression isn't just bad for moms: It can also harm their babies. That's according to a new American Academy of Pediatrics report published Monday in the journal, Pediatrics. It cites research showing developmental and social delays in babies with depressed mothers. The academy says that every year more than 400,000 babies are born to depressed women. Estimates say that between 5 percent and 25 percent of women develop postpartum depression. The pediatrics academy says severely depressed women should be referred to experts for treatment. View the article here May 21, 2010 - Law Gives $3 Million to Educate, Research PPD Chicago Tribune - Nine years ago, Chris Loo thought about putting her newborn daughter, Becky, in a basket on the steps of a church down the street from her home, and leaving her there. "I don't think I really wanted to get rid of her, I just think I wasn't thinking at all," said Loo, 43, a social worker in Flushing, New York. "I started to really feel suicidal, like I just couldn't go on anymore." View the Chicago Tribune's complete article here Read a letter of congratulations from Joan Mudd, president of the Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Foundation, at The MOTHERS Act Passes! May 14, 2010 - CNN Spotlights Mothers' Struggles with PPD CNN Health - Nine years ago, Chris Loo thought about putting her newborn daughter, Becky, in a basket on the steps of a church down the street from her home, and leaving her there. "I don't think I really wanted to get rid of her, I just think I wasn't thinking at all," said Loo, 43, a social worker in Flushing, New York. "I started to really feel suicidal, like I just couldn't go on anymore." Read CNN's complete article here The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Foundation is overjoyed that the MOTHERS Act has finally passed! We give a well-deserved standing ovation to Carol Blocker, Rep. Bobby Rush, Sen. Robert Menendez, Mary Jo Codey, Susan Dowd Stone and Sylvia Lasalandra for their hard work in enacting this important bill. May 6, 2010 - Women's Health Advocates and Congressional Champions Celebrate Enactment of the MOTHERS Act on The Hill With Mother’s Day approaching, women’s health advocates will join Congressional champions on The Hill to celebrate the enactment of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, the initiative to combat postpartum depression signed into law as part of health insurance reform. The law was authored by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), who will help lead the celebratory event on May 6, 2010. The new law will establish a comprehensive federal commitment to combating postpartum depression through new research, education initiatives and voluntarily support service programs. Read this brief summary from Sen. Menendez about the bill and pass it along to your friends! Learn more detailed information about this new bill on Sen. Menendez's website. March 22, 2010 - Major Initiative to Combat Postpartum Depression To Be Signed Into Law As Part of Health Insurance Reform U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act will become law as part of landmark health insurance reform. According to Sen. Menedez's press release, the MOTHERS Act will "establish a comprehensive federal commitment to combating postpartum depression through new research, education initiatives and voluntarily support service programs. July 17, 2009 - A Mother's Letter Postpartum Progress - Read Joan Mudd's letter supporting The Melanie Blocker Stokes Mother's Act here. July 13, 2009 - MOTHERS Act Supporters Scold Time Magazine for Postpartum Depression Article More than 40 advocates for the MOTHERS Act, including Mary Jo Codey, Joan Mudd, George Parnham and Valerie Plame Wilson, admonished Time magazine for its article "The Melancholy of Motherhood." Their letter refutes statements made by Time writer Catherine Elton about postpartum depression and the MOTHERS Act. Read the letter... April 20, 2009 is Blog Day for the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. We strongly encourage everyone to write your senator today to advocate passage of this important legislation! Congratulations to Katherine Stone for being named Health Hero by WebMD. The Foundation salutes your achievement! October 16, 2008 WTTW 11 - Chicago Tonight Joan Mudd and Dr. Laura Miller discuss Postpartum Depression on Chicago Tonight September 13, 2007 Chicago Parent 'We Knew She Was Lost' February 17, 2003 Chicago Tribune From Pain A New Purpose February 16, 2003 Chicago Tribune Descent into Darkness: Postpartum Depression February 10, 2003 Nurse.com Postpartum Depression Hotline Offers New Help to Mothers PRESS RELEASE: SENATOR MENENDEZ APPLAUDS GRASSROOTS SHOW OF FORCE ON BLOG DAY   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2009 CONTACTS: Menendez Press Office 202-224-4744 Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act has broad support in Congress, needs public pressure to overcome procedural obstacles   WASHINGTON - As bloggers around the country today advocate for passage of federal legislation to combat postpartum depression, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Senate sponsor of the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, applauded the effort as necessary to enact the bill into law. The legislation has broad support in Congress and was able to pass the House of Representatives earlier this year, but has been stalled in the Senate because of objections by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). Senator Coburn commonly uses senatorial holds to stall disease-specific legislation, and indications are that he would do so with the MOTHERS Act.   Postpartum depression is a condition that is not only more widespread than most realize but also more debilitating than most realize, said Menendez. We need to make sure these mothers are fully supported and informed, rather than scared and alone. Working together with a nationwide community of mothers, we are so close to enacting this important legislation into law. What we need is an intense dose of public pressure. This Blog Day helps reinforce the type of grassroots movement that will create the pressure that is needed, and I commend the participants. I invite mothers, fathers and anyone else who believes we need to better support those with postpartum depression to contact their Senators and urge them to vocally support S.324.��   The legislation would increase federal efforts to combat postpartum depression by: Encouraging Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions. Encouraging a National Public Awareness Campaign, to be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis. Requiring the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Creating a grant program to public or nonprofit private entities to deliver or enhance outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions. Activities may also include providing education about postpartum conditions to new mothers and their families, including symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources, in order to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. It is estimated that postpartum depression (PPD) affects from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers. In the United States, there may be as many as 800,000 new cases of postpartum conditions each year. The cause of PPD is not known but changes in hormone levels, a difficult pregnancy or birth, and a family history of depression are considered possible factors.