Free Workshop and Booklet For New Mothers To Celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
Northbrook, Illinois - A new, free workshop, "Emotional Wellness for New Moms," will discuss the challenges new moms face and offer ways women can look after themselves emotionally when they have a new baby. The Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois (PPD Alliance IL), an organization working to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of maternal mental health issues throughout Illinois, will host the informative education and discussion session.
The "Emotional Wellness for New Moms" workshop will take place on May 17th from 1pm - 2:30 pm at 3400 Dundee Road, Suite 245, Northbrook. To register or for more information about the workshop or to learn more about the PPD Alliance IL, please go to http://www.ppdil.org/how-we-can-help/ or call the 847 791-7722.
In addition to the workshop, the PPD Alliance IL is also offering a free, downloadable resource, "Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Stress, Anxiety and Depression," which provides pregnant and new mothers tips and information about coping with their emotions during this often challenging time in their lives. To download the free guide, or to learn further about counseling and treatment options, visit http://drsarahallen.com/pregnancy-postpartum/
"We are offering this free workshop to assure local women that the feelings they are experiencing are real, to know that they are not alone, and to know that treatment is available," said Dr. Sarah Allen, Psy.D, a psychologist who founded the Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois in 2001. "We also find that Mother's Day can be particularly stressful for some new mothers, and want to make sure that the community is aware of this local resource and that it is available to help at any time."
In addition to Mother's Day, Dr. Allen has worked with the Governor Rauner's office and May has been proclaimed "Perinatal Mood Disorders Awareness Month" in Illinois. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 15% of pregnant women and 15% - 20% of new mothers experience major or minor depression in the first year after giving birth, affecting nearly 1 million women every year in the United States alone. Yet despite their prevalence, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are under-detected by health care professionals and many women go without treatment.
Symptoms for pregnancy and postpartum depression and anxiety differ for everyone but may include:
• Worries and panic attacks
• Feelings of sadness, fear, anger and guilt
• Possible thoughts of harming the baby or oneself
• Lack of interest in the baby
• Appetite and sleep disturbance
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
It is also important to bring awareness to lesser known postpartum disorders such as Postpartum OCD which typically involves worry and rumination about the baby's health and affects 6% of new moms and PTSD following traumatic labor experiences which effects 9% of women and so is more common than most women think.
About Postpartum Depression Illinois Alliance
The PPD Alliance IL is run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about supporting women and raising awareness about maternal mental health across Illinois. PPD Alliance IL offers a helpline (847-205-4455) and website http://www.PPDil.org for women and their families so they can learn more about pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders and access local resources such as support groups and trained healthcare providers.
More information about postpartum depression can also be found at http://www.ppdil.org/how-we-can-help/
CONTACT:
Dr. Sarah Allen
Director, Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois
847 791 -7722
sarahallen@ppdil.org