Speak Up Washington E-Newsletter OCTOBER NEWS “Speak Up When You’re Down” Campaign Report Now Available “Speak Up When You’re Down: A Report on the Washington State Postpartum Depression Awareness Campaign” is now ready to be distributed. The report details the legislation that created the campaign, and what was accomplished with the dollars appropriated and leveraged from partners in the community, as well as the contributions by partner organizations that were not monetary. To read the full report, click here. For an executive summary of the report, contact Chris Jamieson at: chris@wcpcan.wa.gov.   PPD Poll A new poll released recently of 1,000 California parents finds that a startling 52% have either experienced postpartum depression, or know someone who has. At the same time, 36% said they would likely do nothing and wait for the symptoms to pass if they or their partner were suffering from PPD. Postpartum depression has been identified as a serious mental health illness that is both diagnosable and treatable. 25% of people who experience PPD will still have depression after 12 months if left untreated. Untreated maternal depression is bad for babies, it makes mothers at risk for future PPD, and it is a contributor to poor school readiness for other older kids in the family. It also impacts marital relationships, not to mention the personal suffering that the woman will experience. The poll, conducted by the Iris Alliance Fund, has alarmed mental-health advocates statewide. Advocacy organizations including the Iris Alliance Fund are calling for a significant increase in funding for postpartum depression prescreening and treatment. Citing that postpartum depression can be treated through counseling, support groups, and medicine, advocates have issued a call for additional education for OB/GYN’s and primary care doctors as well as education programs that target the entire family. To read the full article from Ascribe Newswire, click here.   Research and Resources Welcome  Do you know of a great article, resource or event related to Postpartum Depression? This newsletter will come out once a month and we want to ensure we are including the newest research, the best resources and all relevant events, so PLEASE, send on anything you think might be of use to others interested in the topic of Postpartum Depression. Send any links, articles or the like to Kristen Rogers at kristen@wcpcan.wa.gov. Thank you!

EVENTS Postpartum Mood Disorder Support Group 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Puyallup, Washington A support group is now being offered at the Puyallup Library, 324 South Meridian near Pioneer Park. The group will meet the second and forth Wednesday of every month. MerrieLynn Rice, a Public Health Nurse and “Speak Up” campaign partner is running these groups. For additional information contact MerrieLynn at (253)789-3539.   How Do I Become a Postpartum Doula? November 3-4 & 10-11, 2006 The postpartum period is often the most challenging and overlooked time in the transition to parenthood. Many new families lack the care they need following the birth of their baby. The postpartum doula (doo’-luh) helps meet this need by educating, nurturing, and empowering mothers and families towards confidence in their new roles. A doula may provide assistance ranging from breastfeeding support to mother/baby care to cooking and housework. Take a four-day Postpartum Doula Training at Seattle Midwifery School! You may decide to work for a doula agency, use the training to enhance your current employment, or go into business for yourself. The training is approved by the Northwest Association for Postpartum Support and DONA International. Call us or visit www.seattlemidwifery.org/doula_education.htm or e-mail info@seattlemidwifery.org for more information.

RESEARCH Impact of Postpartum Hospital-Stay Legislation on Newborn Length of Stay, Readmission, and Mortality in California The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of postpartum hospital-stay legislation on newborns' length of stay, neonatal readmissions, and 1-year mortality in California, and whether this legislation had differential impacts by demographics and complications during delivery or pregnancy. Postpartum length of stay legislation was associated with increased length of stay among all births in California, with significant variation in the law's impact across demographic groups. After the law's passage, there was a significant decline in neonatal readmissions but not in 1-year mortality. To read the full study, go to: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/short/118/1/63.   Study Examines Effect of Maternal Depression and Violence Exposure on Child School Functioning “When coexistent within the same family, maternal depression and violence were associated with poorer cognitive abilities and more-concerning child behaviors than when each was present individually," state the authors of an article published in the September 2006 issue of Pediatrics. To date, studies of maternal depression have not considered the consequences of concurrent violence exposure on child outcomes. This article presents findings from a study to determine the impact of violence exposure on the relationship between maternal depression and childhood cognitive performance and behavior. The authors conclude that "from the perspective of child outcomes, considering maternal depression without considering violence potentially means ignoring a significant part of the problem." For more information, go to: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/3/e792.   Prenatal and Postpartum Depression Common, but Commonly Untreated Prenatal and postpartum depression can cause serious problems for mothers and their babies, but most women suffering from these conditions aren't getting treatment. And even those receiving treatment may not be getting enough. That's according to a new study from the University of Michigan Depression Center. The study found that of the 1,837 pregnant women surveyed, 17 percent were experiencing an episode of serious depression, and another 23 percent had experienced major depression in the past and required regular monitoring. However, only 33 percent of those currently experiencing major depression and 20 percent of those at risk were receiving any treatment at all. The study can be found in the current issue of General Hospital Psychiatry. Read the full article, go to: http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2006/pregdepression.htm.   Depression, Suicide Ideation Rates Higher among Pregnant Soldiers Results of a small study suggest that rates of depression and thoughts of suicide are higher among active-duty pregnant women in the U.S. Army than nonmilitary pregnant women. Researchers with the University of Mississippi's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology set out "to determine the prevalence of depression among active-duty low-risk pregnant women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale." "Rates for depression have been reported to be as high as 13% during pregnancy and 12 to 22% postpartum, with postpartum suicidal ideation at nearly 7%," A.L. O'Boyle and colleagues said. Full article available at pay-per-view-site when you click here.

RESOURCES Postpartum Depression Booklet Now in Spanish A new Spanish version of an informational booklet about postpartum depression, “Beyond the Birth: What No One Ever Talks About”, is now available from Postpartum Support International (PSI) of Washington. Both Spanish and English versions may be ordered online via PayPal by clicking on “Resources” on the PSI website, http://www.ppmdsupport.com/, or by calling 1-888-404-PPMD (7763).   New Version of Beyond the Blues Now Available The PPD book Beyond the Blues, A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression (2006) has been updated & revised. It’s now available in English and Spanish. A bulk rate for orders of 2 or more is available. For more information, go to: http://www.beyondtheblues.com/.

FEATURE ARTICLE: STRATEGIES FOR SCREENING Tools for Screening Mothers for Depression Depression – one of the most prevalent and disabling mental illnesses in the United States – is twice as likely to affect women as men, with rates of major depression peaking during women's childbearing years. Research has shown that maternal depression can affect parenting behaviors and, ultimately, harm children's health and development. Because pediatricians have frequent contact with mothers, they have opportunities to screen for depression and intervene when necessary. Two Commonwealth Fund–supported articles in Pediatrics (July 2006) explore strategies for incorporating maternal depression screening into well-child care. Both studies emphasize the importance of maternal depression screening at critical times in a child’s first three years - not just during the postpartum period. To read these studies, go to: http://www.cmwf.org/Publications/Publications_show.htm?doc_id=402483.