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December 20, 2016                                                                   I ssue #66
Because there is no health without mental health!
NEW POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW
The Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act proposed by representative Katherine M. Clark was signed into law by President Obama as a component of the 21st Century Cures Act. 

This legislation provides $5 million annually for states to develop and/or sustain culturally competent screening and treatment programs for postpartum depression. Funds are scheduled to be allocated from 2018 to 2022. 

In 2014, Massachusetts began funding a state program called the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) for Moms to increase knowledge of maternal mental illness through resources like provider tool kits. The program also includes a call center for providers staffed by Care Coordinators who work to provide appropriate information and resource referrals. The Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act will hopefully facilitate the creation and expansion of similar programs in other states. 

The legislation will also work to counteract maternal mental illness stigma, with hopes that increased screening and treatment measures will allow more women to feel comfortable addressing their maternal mental health needs. 

To read more, click here.  


 
HELP PROJECT HEALTHY MOMS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GEORGIA MOTHERS!!

 
DONATE TO MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GEORGIA'S END OF THE YEAR CAMPAIGN!!


Any amount is appreciated!


DID YOU KNOW?   

The rate of infants exposed to opioids in utero is increasing in rural U.S.:  A study by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt University's Monroe Carell Children's Hospital found that the rate of newborns diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome has increased dramatically in rural areas, from 1 case per 1,000 births to 7.5 cases per 1,000 births in the past ten years. Researchers urge the funding of opioid prevention and treatment programs for women and children in rural areas of the U.S.  To read more, click here. 
 
Certain SSRIs may increase the risk of preterm birth:  A meta-analysis of eight studies conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that use of SSRIs fluoxetine and paroxetine may increase the risk of preterm birth, especially when used in the third trimester as compared to the first trimester. Even with these results, the use of medication during pregnancy is at the discretion of the patient and her provider since untreated mental illness during pregnancy is also associated with health complications. To learn more, follow this link.

A history of drug use may be associated with an increased risk for postpartum anxiety:  A study by researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of British Columbia found that a woman's lifetime history of drug use (defined as a woman's use of alcohol and drugs at any point in her lifetime) was associated with postpartum stress and anxiety. Researchers note that this information could assist healthcare providers with identifying women who should be screened and treated for maternal mental health complications. To  learn more, click here. 

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SCREENING & IDENTIFICATION TRAINING FOR PERINATAL MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

 

Project Healthy Moms' PMAD Screening and Identification Trainings are aimed at healthcare providers (e.g. physicians, nurses, social workers) who come in contact with childbearing women. Through this program, healthcare providers who are involved in maternal and child health are trained to recognize symptoms of the various PMADs and consequences of untreated PMADs. During the training, providers learn how to screen mothers for PMADs and are also educated about treatment options and referral methods. The goal of the training is to ensure that healthcare providers are able to correctly and routinely identify and refer women who may be suffering from PMADs in their practices.

 

To learn more and schedule a training, please contact Sarah Schwartz at  sarah@mhageorgia.org or (678) 904-1970.
 

RESOURCE LIST

 

Did you know that Mental Health America of Georgia has a resource list for pregnant and postpartum women? It is updated regularly and provides contact information for healthcare providers and outlets for self-care for pregnant and postpartum women.

 

To access the list, visit 

www.mhageorgia.org/project-healthy-moms/resource-list/ 

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

 

Project Healthy Moms is an important initiative of MHA of Georgia.  Perinatal mood disorders are the most common complication of childbirth.  In the United States, approximately 20% of new mothers suffer from these devastating illnesses which, if not properly treated, can have a long-term negative impact on the health of not only the mothers, but their children and families as well.  Our goal is to increase awareness, identification, treatment, and support of perinatal mood disorders in Georgia, while also reducing the stigma associated with them.   To learn more about Project Healthy Moms, click here.

Project Healthy Moms is only one of many programs developed by MHA of Georgia to further our mission of enhancing the mental health of all Georgians through education, outreach, and advocacy. Click here to learn more about MHA of Georgia's other programs.  Your support will help us continue our work educating Georgians about mental illness, striving to eliminate stigma, and advocating on behalf of people with  mental illness in our state.  Click here to support MHA of Georgia.

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