Announcing the Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope for March 2007 (drumroll please) ... Mary Jo Codey!!!! If you haven't heard about the impact the former first lady of New Jersey has had on the issue of postpartum mood disorders, then you've missed a LOT!!
Mary Jo Codey was first introduced to postpartum mood disorders 22 years ago after she experienced PPD with the birth of her son Kevin. Prior to that, she had no idea that PPD even existed or that she might be at risk. She also went through PPD again four years later with her second son, Christopher. Even though she had all the signs of PPD, no one seemed to know what was wrong with her. She checked herself into a mental institution for a month but found no help there. Eventually she began to see a psychiatrist who did know about PPD and was able to help Mary Jo. She began to experience scary, intrusive thoughts about hurting her son. For months she worked with the psychiatrist tying different antidepressants, but the intrusive thoughts increased until she finally decided to "just end it all". Fortunately, the psychiatrist had decided to try an MAO inhibitor as a last-ditch effort, and within a few weeks the intrusive thoughts began to decrease and finally disappear. All in all, it took a year for Mary Jo to get better.
She became angry, as so many of us do, that it took so long for her to get the help she needed, and that until then no one recognized the signs. She realized that people needed to know and care about this disorder, and she didn't want anyone else to have to go through the self-blame and shame she experienced. To that end, she became an advocate extraordinaire. She has publicly shared her story with a wide variety of audiences, from health care and mental health professionals, to women's groups, PPD support groups, the general public and the media. During her husband's tenure as governor, New Jersey created a comprehensive awareness campaign called "Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You're Down". The campaign -- which made New Jersey the first state to commit resources to uninsured new mothers for PPD screenings and treatment -- features a 24/7 helpline and a bilingual website with valuable information and contacts for women and their families, as well as for medical professionals. The campaign includes literature and radio and TV PSAs. Mary Jo is very proud to be the spokesperson for that campaign, and was instrumental in its development.
Of all the work she has done, she is most proud of New Jersey's Postpartum Depression Screening and Education law, which took effect in October 2006 and is an outgrowth of the efforts that began during her husband's administration. Now every pregnant woman in New Jersey is educated about maternal mood disorders before giving birth; the mother of every baby born in the state will be screened for postpartum depression; and all licensed health care professionals who provide pre- and post-natal care will be educated about maternal depression. There is a budget of $4.5 million for education and screening.
As for the future, most of all Mary Jo wishes for New Jersey's law to become national law. The MOTHERs Act is actually based on the New Jersey law and is soon to be reintroduced in the Senate. She says it's time for it to come out of committee and get passed!!
Her biggest concern is that too many women are slipping through the cracks and going untreated. PPD is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, and progress is being made on raising awareness and increasing screening, she says. But the latest study published by JAMA shows we need to do more. There are lives at risk, she explains, and we owe it to women and their families to provide more education, screening, treatment and support.
Thank you, thank you Mary Jo Codey for your willingness to speak out, your courage, your honesty and most of all for your commitment to women like us! You are definitely a Beacon of Hope!
