Postpartum Progress

New Support Group & Treatment Program for PPD in Des Moines

According to the Des Moines Register, women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression have a new resource in Des Moines that offers screening, assessment, treatment and a support group, all free of charge.

"The small group of moms that meets weekly is a component of the program offered by Visiting Nurse Services", said Donna Richard-Langer, manager of mental health services for Visiting Nurse Services ...
The Visiting Nurse Services Postpartum Depression Partnership Program is a collaboration between Visiting Nurse Services, the Wellmark Foundation and the Postpartum Depression Task Force of Des Moines, of which Visiting Nurse Services is a member ... Treatment can involve just the individual, or therapy for the couple or the whole family, she said. Another option is the support group, Motherhood and Moods, which meets every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 606 E. Ninth St. Child care is provided."

Marshall University To Host PPD Support Group in April

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, is launching a six-week therapy program next month for new mothers experiencing depression symptoms.  The program will start Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will continue every Thursday for six weeks. Mothers interested can contact the program's e-mail at babybluesgroup@yahoo.com.

New Home for the Completely Updated Nationwide Support Group List

I have moved the U.S. PPD Support Group Listing to the Pages Section of this site, which you'll find to the left of your screen.  From now on, this is where this listing will be housed at Postpartum Progress.  It is completly updated and has many more listings now.  I encourage you to click here if you're looking for a group in your area that will offer you moral support as you go through this illness!

Also, please take an active part in this site by letting me know if any of the information on these lists changes.  If a group stops meeting, tell me.  If you call a phone number or send an email and it doesn't work, tell me.  If you start a new group, tell me.  It is CRUCIAL that the information be correct so that suffering women can get the help they need as quickly as possible without having to make a lot of phone calls.  Thanks everybody!!

Meetup.com Lists Postpartum Meetups

Meetup.com is a place where people can find groups created around common interests in their local areas.  There is a postpartum section that lists Postpartum meetups that are already happening, as well as people looking for a meetup in their area.  I've just listed my new Southside Atlanta support group on the Meetup website.  I'm placing a link here so that you can check it out if you're looking for groups in your area.

New Atlanta Area Support Group

I'm very excited to say that I'm starting a PPD support group for women in Atlanta.  (We need one around here!!)  It will serve mainly moms on the South side of the city, but women from all over are welcome to attend.  It will be held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month at the Starbucks in Peachtree City located at Rt. 54 and Broken Bow Ct from 10am-11am.  This Starbucks has conference rooms, and we will be in a conference room and not out in the retail space. (Note:  You are not required to buy coffee.)  The first meeting will be held on Monday, August 27th.  The meetings are free and open to women who are up to one and a half years postpartum and are suffering or think they may be suffering from a postpartum mood disorder.  I also welcome survivors who'd like to be part of helping the group.  Babies are welcome for those who don't have childcare.  Call 404-538-4649 if you need more info or plan to attend.

New Support Group in Memphis

Download ppd_support_groups_71307.doc I've added a new support group in Memphis, TN to the support group list.   

Postpartum Depression Resources Just For Dads

While it is crucial that women have as much information as possible when suffering a postpartum mood disorder, I think it is equally important for family members to understand the role they can play in supporting these women -- especially husbands.  Having a supportive husband who understands what you're going through and provides the right kind of help plays a big part in recovery.  I've been meaning to let all of you know about a great resource for new dads with wives/partners going through postpartum mood disorders -- Postpartum Dads.  You can go to the Postpartum Dads website by linking here.  This site features information to help dads understand what women with perinatal mood disorders are going through, what they themselves are going through and what can be done about it.  It also features personal stories of men who have made it through this experience and how they dealt with it.  I think this is a wonderful resource, because men are very much affected by their partners' illnesses, often unsure what to do and unsure about their own feelings and how to deal with them.  I also often point people to Karen Kleiman's book, The Postpartum Husband, which offers practical solutions for living with postpartum depression.  We can't forget that the men are going through this with us, and they need help too!

New PPD Awareness Campaign in Ontario, Canada

The province of Ontario in Canada has launched a new public awareness campaign on postpartum depression.  Here's some info from the Toronto Star:

"A new public awareness campaign launched this month is aimed at bringing the topic of postpartum mood disorders out of the closet to help struggling mothers ... find the support and treatment they need. And to let them know they aren't alone.

One of its slogans: 'Life with a new baby is not always what you expect.'

The campaign, launched by Best Start, an Ontario-government funded resource centre for mothers and young children, includes subway posters, shopping mall ads, television and radio clips, a 12-page brochure with information, strategies and resources for getting help, and a website (lifewithnewbaby.ca). Telehealth Ontario is also a partner, providing phone consultation and links to services and treatment for mothers needing help.

Hiltrud Dawson, health promotion consultant with Best Start, said several tragic deaths of women with postpartum mood disorders and their children over the past few years highlighted the need for more public information.

A survey by Leger Marketing last year showed that 80 percent of Canadians had heard of postpartum mood disorders, which affect one in five women and are treatable and in many cases preventable. But Dawson said there are still many misconceptions about the illness and many spouses and family members don't know what to do or how to seek help.

Campaign resources will help them distinguish the difference between 'baby blues' which affect most mothers but fade in a couple of weeks, and postpartum depression, which doesn't pass and can become debilitating. And it explains postpartum psychosis, a serious disorder that has generated headlines but is very rare, causing mothers to lose touch with reality and think about harming themselves and their babies."

Register NOW! for the PSI Conference

The 21st annual Postpartum Support International Conference is scheduled for June 20-23 in Kansas City.  The conference brochure is now available online at http://www.postpartum.net/kansascity.html and you can register to attend there as well.

The title of the conference is:  "Supporting Families: Fostering Perinatal Emotional Health and Reducing Vulnerability".  I'll be attending and I hope you will too.  It's a very interesting conference to attend, whether you're a practitioner (social worker, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, ob/gyn, RN) or someone who suffered because it helps you get active in the cause and meet other women who've been through it.  I highly recommend the experience, and I'm looking forward to going!

New Support Groups in Maine and Washington

I've added new groups in Maine and Washington to the PPD support groups list.  Check it out below.

Download ppd_support_groups_22707.doc

Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope: Helena Bradford

Today, Postpartum Progress is launching a new monthly feature called the "Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope".  Each month, I will honor a worthy individual who invests his or her time and energy working to help women who are suffering or have suffered from postpartum mood disorders. The honoree will be someone who has been impacted by PPMD and has since chosen to let their light shine by educating and helping others.  And now (drumroll please) ... introducing the Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope for February 2007:

Helena Bradford

Helena started the Ruth Rhoden Craven Foundation for Postpartum Depression Awareness in South Carolina after the needless death of her daughter Ruth on December 5, 1999, just two and a half months after the birth of Ruth's first child.  After learning about the illness that caused Ruth to end her life at age 33, and learning that it was totally treatable, Helena and two friends (Elaine Earl and Mary Anna Mullinax) created the foundation in March 2000 because they didn't want other families to suffer the same pain they have.  As a result of their work, there are now four PPD support groups in the state of South Carolina.  (There were none when Helena's daughter died.)  They also host an annual 5k walk/run every year in Charleston.  Among all of her accomplishments, Helena is most proud of the individual lives that have been saved and the families that have been given back their mom, wife, sister or aunt as a direct result of Ruth's death.  She says that helps take a little of the sting away from the intense pain of losing Ruth.  As for the future, Helena would like to see routine screening of all pregnant women for perinatal depression conducted once per trimester by ob/gyns, in addition to national screening of new moms for PPD soon after delivery.  She would also like to see birthing classes include more in-depth information about these illnesses -- symptoms, risk factors and where to find help should PPD surface.

Congratulations Helena, and thank you so much for shining a light on postpartum mood disorders!!!!!!

If you would like to nominate someone to be a Postpartum Progress Beacon of Hope, email me at stonecallis@msn.  Provide me with the person's name, contact information, and why you think they should be chosen as a Beacon of Hope.  Thanks.

More Support Groups in AZ and IL

I've added 2 more PPD support groups in Illinois and one in Arizona to the list -- please check it out if you're looking for help in those areas.

Download ppd_support_groups_12507.doc

New GA & IN PPD Support Groups

More support groups ... hooray!  The more the better.  I've now added Athens, Ga and Hobart, IN groups to the list.  You can find them here:

Download ppd_support_groups_11807.doc

Support Group in Maine

This is the first support group from Maine on my list.  I'm sure the women in Maine will be happy to see it.  Check out the list below.

Download ppd_support_groups_1607.doc

NM and NY PPD Support Groups

Again, an updated support group list, with new groups in Santa Fe, NM and Brooklyn, NY. 

Download ppd_support_groups_1507.doc

Changes in FL, SC, NC and WA in PPD Support Group List

Here is the updated support group list with changes in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Washington ...

Download ppd_support_groups_120106.doc

PPD Support Groups List, Take Two

Several of you have let me know that you tried to open up my list of support groups and it didn't work.  Sorry.  I'm not sure what's wrong so I'm going to reattach it to this post and see if it works this time!

Download ppd_support_groups1.doc

New Support Groups in Maryland

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I have now added the state of Maryland to my support group list, with one group in Annapolis and several in Baltimore.  Please check out the list if you're looking to meet with people like you in you're area.  I try to keep it as comprehensive as possible.

Note:  If you run a group, please make sure my information is correct.  If you closed a group down, please let me know so I can remove it from the list.  Thank you.

Maryland Launches "Healthy New Moms" Campaign

Maryland has launched a new statewide campaign called Healthy New Moms: Maryland's Campaign to End Depression During & After Pregnancy.   It's a public information and provider education campaign that promotes mental and physical wellness in new mothers and their families.  The campaign features what looks like a very comprehensive and easy-to-use website that is split into four main categories:  What Causes Perinatal Depression?, How is Perinatal Depression Treated?, You Will Get Better and Provider Resources.  It provides information on support groups in Maryland, and includes some helpful contacts for sufferers with low incomes or no insurance.  WAY TO GO, MARYLAND!!!!!!!

New Support Group in Corvallis, OR

I've updated the support group list with a new group in Corvallis, Oregon.  Check it out in the updated list attached.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Changes to Support Groups in MN and NJ

I've updated the support group list with some recent changes to groups in New Jersey and Minnesota, so if you're from either of those areas you should check out the changes.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Ohio Support Group

Ohio has now been added to the list of states with support groups with a group in Columbus.  They say Cleveland will be coming soon ...

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I've also added their website to the list on the right of your screen of State & Local Organizations.  Thanks for reaching out to me, POEM!

Tags: PPD support groups Ohio

Minnesota Has PPD Support Group

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

The PPD Support Group list has been updated with a group in Minnesota.  Glad to add Minnesota to the list!

Tags: postpartum depression Minnesota support group

Thanks to the Postpartum Progress Network & Updates on Indiana

I know it's not titillating news for me to keep posting updates to the PPD Support Group list, but I feel it's so important to the women out there who need help and understanding from those who know exactly what they're going through.  Birdie Meyer, PSI Coordinator of Indiana, was wonderful to send me a complete update of all the groups in Indiana (of which there are many!) - Ft. Wayne and Bloomington are new groups that have been added. 

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

I really appreciate the help of all of you in the Postpartum Progress "network" in sending me information and news to post on the site.  You help make it so much better!

Tags: PPD support groups Indiana postpartum depression

Updates

I've updated the support group information for Washington and Florida.  The updated list is attached below.

Also, I've added a link to PSI of Washington in the Local & State People Who Care section to the right of your screen.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups postpartum depression Florida Washington

Ann Arbor Support Group Added

The PPD Support Group list has been updated again, adding a group in Ann Arbor, MI.  Keep 'em coming!

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups Michigan postpartum depression

Northern VA/DC and Hawaii Support Groups

Ladies, the Support Group list has been updated again.  I've now been able to add groups in Hawaii and the Northern Virginia/DC metro area, thanks to hearing from the people who run those groups!

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: PPD support groups Virginia Hawaii

St. Louis and Miami added to PPD Support Group List

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

After my post yesterday, I heard about two MORE support groups -- one in Florida and one in Missouri.  This is GREAT.  I'm so glad to hear from people about the increasing opportunities for women to get together and help one another through this illness.  So please find above yet another revised list. 

We now have 15 of 50 states represented.  I just know there are more out there, so keep them coming.  And please let me know if a support group is closed down so that I can take it off the list.  I really want this list to be accurate at all times, so that a sufferer doesn't receive a glimmer of hope when seeing the list only to have those hopes dashed when they find out there isn't a group in their area anymore.

Tags: postpartum depression support groups PPD St. Louis Miami

Updated Support Group List

Attached is an updated PPD support group list -- I've added a group for Florence, SC, and one for Vorhees, NJ.  Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Tags: postpartum depression support groups New Jersey South Carolina

PPD Support Groups List

Here is the list of PPD support groups around the country that I have been able to compile so far.  As I get in more information I will add it to the list. 

Download ppd_support_groups_1407.doc

Tag: postpartum depression, PPD support groups, baby blues, postpartum OCD, postpartum psychosis