Speak Up Washington E-Newsletter JANUARY NEWS   Speak Up Campaign Casting for New TV & Radio PSA Production is now underway on an exciting new project to create a series of public service announcements (both TV and radio) for the Speak Up When You're Down postpartum depression awareness campaign.  To give these public service announcements an authentic voice that can speak to other women and their families in Washington, we would very much like to cast "real life" actors for these roles, if possible.  An information sheet is attached that was created to provide an overview of the project and the PSA production process. Please feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be willing to share their story and/or appear on camera for the project.  For more information, contact Chris Jamieson / WCPCAN at 206.389.2412 or chris@wcpcan.wa.gov.   MOTHERS Act Legislation Nearly Complete According to U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), it is expected that the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act may be passed in early spring or possibly sooner once America's legislative bodies reconvene. This legislation would provide grants to better increase education and access to screenings for new mothers and to increase research into this difficult illness. The bill also proposes grants to health care providers, to facilitate the delivery of healthcare to those suffering from postpartum depression. You can track this legislation and read the text of the bill at Govtrack.us.   Stepping Up: Prevention Strategies for Pregnancy, Parenting and Infancy announces the launching of Keys to Postpartum Depression. Created by nurse scientists at the University of Washington and members of the Washington State First Steps Team, Keys to Postpartum Depression offers a series of multi-media training modules on Understanding and Treating Women with Perinatal Depression & Mood Disorders; Relationship Focused Practice; and Screening for Perinatal Depression. Approximately 50% of women with perinatal depression are never identified.   Do You Get the WCPCAN/Children's Trust Legislative Update? The 2008 Legislative Session begins on January 14th. Are you paying attention to what is happening for children and families this year? If you would like to be kept up to date on legislative issues impacting kids and families, you can sign up for this free e-newsletter that comes out once a week during session at: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:2202.   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 David Beard at beardd@wcpcan.wa.gov. Thank you!

EVENTS   Free Screening of The Business of Being Born Seattle Midwifery School, in conjunction with Pregnant in Puget Sound and The Warren Report, will host a free screening of the new documentary film The Business of Being Born on January 21 in Seattle. This film, produced by actress and talk show host Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein, explores the issues affecting birth in America. Stay after the film for a panel discussion with Ricki, Abby and local midwifery experts. Seats are free but please reserve your spot as seating is limited.  Visit http://www.bizofbeingborn.eventbrite.com/ to reserve your seat.   Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Mood Disorders Building on its work with the Washington State Speak Up When You’re Down postpartum depression awareness campaign, the Seattle Midwifery School is offering a one-day workshop on the diagnosis and treatment of postpartum mood disorders. Click here to enroll in this course and help raise awareness of the diagnosis and treatment of postpartum mood disorders.     Free Perinatal Mood Disorder Informational Conference Calls Postpartum Support International is offering free Perinatal Mood Disorder Informational sessions via an 800 teleconference line. Limited to the first 15 callers, these sessions, which are informational only, will offer participants an opportunity to ask questions and obtain information from PSI healthcare professionals. The sessions are opened to women who feel they may be suffering from a pregnancy related mood disorders as well as concerned family members and friends. In January, calls are scheduled every Wednesday. To participate, participants must call 1-800-994-8766 five minutes before the call begins. For more information, go to: http://postpartum.net/info-sessions.html.   Bringing Baby Home Certification Training in Seattle This October 17-19 training is taught by master trainers.  Last October, Carolyn Pirak, MSW and Joni Parthemer, MEd, taught the training which was offered under the direction of John Gottman, PhD, and the Relationship Research Institute of Seattle. Professionals from a variety of disciplines (including educators, nurses, social workers, doulas, midwives, childbirth educators and clergy) will learn to teach pregnant and parenting couples the relationship skills essential for a successful transition to parenthood.  Visit www.bbhonline.org/training.aspx to register.

RESEARCH   Experience of pregnancy and delivery as predictors of postpartum depression This research examined experiences of pregnancy and delivery as predictors of three subscales identified within the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (nonspecific depression, anhedonia, and anxiety). Mothers of babies under 1 year (N = 415) completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and gave information as to number of pregnancies, number of children, and their ratings of the difficulty of the course of pregnancy and delivery. Number of pregnancies and number of children did not predict scores on any of these subscales. Difficulty in the course of pregnancy was a significant positive predictor of nonspecific depression, and difficulty of delivery was a significant positive predictor of anxiety. Neither of these variables significantly predicted anhedonia. These results provide evidence of the heterogeneity of postpartum depression, indicating that risk factors differentially influence subscales of the EPDS.   Universal Prenatal/Postpartum Care and Home Visitation: The Plan for an Ideal System in New York State This paper produced by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy describes a system of services that supports new families by providing three components: universal prenatal care, postpartum screening, and comprehensive home visiting. Click here to read.

RESOURCES New Great Starts Guide to Birthing Options in the Seattle Area The New Great Starts Guide to Hospitals, Birth Centers, and Home Birth Midwives in King County helps parents find care provider and birth place that is best for them. This 24-page magazine includes articles on types of care providers and birth places, care recommendations, and survey results from local providers sharing their policies, services, and intervention rates. The guide is available directly from Parent Trust for Washington Children at: www.greatstarts.org/bookstore.htm#Guide and is also available at local maternity stores and baby boutiques.   Postpartum Support International of Washington Launches New Website with a List of Providers Postpartum Support International of Washington has launched a new website that includes a section on care providers that have demonstrated special interest and knowledge in serving and treating women experiencing Postpartum Mood Disorders. Please note that because Postpartum Support International of Washington cannot recommend any specific providers, treatments, or interventions, we suggest you call the provider and discuss your exact needs and concerns. Check out the website at http://www.ppmdsupport.com/providers.html.

FEATURE ARTICLE: Washington’s PPD Outreach Campaign Makes News RH (Reproductive Health) Reality Check had a great article on the efforts of the Washington State “Speak Up When Your Down” Campaign. The article discusses the lack of information that new and expecting mothers receive about Postpartum Depression and its effects.  The story also touched on the “Warm Line”, which offers mothers, family members, and providers resources on where to receive help and information in both English and Spanish. This article went online just weeks before The King County Children & Family Commission/Parent Trust PPD video began running on King County TV.  It’s titled: Speak Up When You’re Down - Recognizing Postpartum Depression - With Interview.  The Commission has other efforts underway to get it aired on other King County public TV stations. To read the article on RH Reality Check’s website Click Here.