Postpartum Support International Receives Grant from Walton Family Foundation

Worldwide Network Increases with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Initiatives

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Apr 29, 2016, 08:04 ET

DENVER, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As many as one in seven women will experience postpartum depression. In many cases, this illness goes undiagnosed and untreated, often with tragic and long-term consequences to both mother and child. New mothers need not struggle alone, as there are a range of volunteer and professional services available. Postpartum Support International (PSI), the leading organization supporting women with all types of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, is pleased to announce that they are the recipients of a grant from the Ben and Lucy Ana Walton Fund of the Walton Family Foundation to strengthen the statewide perinatal mental health support system in Colorado.

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This announcement comes as PSI is poised to participate in national and international awareness efforts to raise awareness of maternal mental health. PSI is a founding member of the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health, and will be promoting the #AskHer theme for the @MayCampaign, May 2-6. PSI also helped organize the first World Maternal Mental Health Day to be held on May 4, with a theme of #maternalMHmatters. Visit their landing page http://wmmhday.postpartum.net/.

"The generous grant from the Walton Family Foundation will allow us to develop an effective local organization and process that creates a quality database of perinatal mental health providers in Colorado," said Jennifer Harned Adams, PhD, a Denver psychologist with a specialty in women's reproductive health concerns.

"The Walton Family Foundation grant will enable PSI to work with partners to move the mark on pregnancy-related depression. We need to move beyond screening and address the obstacles that exist for women to access perinatal mental health services. First year goals of the grant include identifying quality standards and key community partners, developing a screening to referral protocol, and expanding capacity to provide technical assistance. With the support from the Ben and Lucy Ana Walton Fund, our goal is to create a model that can be utilized in other states to strengthen the safety net for families," said Wendy Davis, PhD, Executive Director of PSI.

In 2015, PSI launched the official formation of PSI State Chapters, providing a consistent structure and unification of efforts. To improve the overall quality of service, PSI is developing a perinatal mental health training, certification and credentialing process to be fully operational in 2017.

PSI 29^th annual conference will be held in San Diego, June 22-25. Celebrity Chef Aarti Sequeira, who experienced postpartum depression, will be the Friday banquet keynote speaker. "In addition to the excellent, cutting edge presentations at the conference, the opportunity to network with not only the speakers but with other mothers who have struggled with postpartum mood and anxiety disorders is priceless," said Cheryl Tatano Beck, University of Connecticut School of Nursing.

PSI has volunteers in 50 states and 49 countries. To find support in your local area, visit PSI's website www.postpartum.net or call their warmline at 800-944-4PPD.

Contact: Sharon Gerdes, Email, 719-358-9499.

SOURCE Postpartum Support International