APA Educates Public About Postpartum Depression

APA’s new position statement on pregnancy and postpartum depression and anxiety will supplement other recent APA initiatives in this area, including the following:

• The APA Women’s Caucus designed a durable take-home card for new mothers called “Moms: Be Sure to Take Care of Yourself, Too!” to educate them about the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. The Healthy Start Initiative distributes the cards to the women in the program on the first home visit following the birth of their child. It is also available for general distribution to other organizations on the Healthy Start website.

• Two members of the APA Women’s Caucus, Glenda Wrenn, M.D., and Maureen Sayres Van Niel, M.D., collaborated on an episode of the PBS television program “Healthy Minds” on postpartum depression in 2018. The segment is intended to increase awareness of the importance of mental health education, screening, and treatment during the perinatal period. It has been used by health care professionals, organizations who support women with postpartum disorders, and the general public. ■