Finding support for postpartum depression

Kimberly Wong, Postpartum Depression Activist, shares advice for women with postpartum depression on the best places to find support for dealing with your ppd
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Finding support for postpartum depression

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It is absolutely critical that women experiencing depression, anxiety, or related mood disorder based on their pregnancy or birth of their child that they not suffer in silence. Perinatal depression and related mood disorders are highly treatable. But what that means is that a woman must access help. The help could be in the form of speaking to her OBGYN, her family doctor, even the baby’s pediatrician, reaching out and asking for referral to another source of support, which could be a local support group in the area. It could be a therapist who is working in conjunction with the doctor in the clinic where the baby was born. And there is a national organization called Postpartum Support International and they have a website, they also have an 800 number and once you call that number, you will be connected with a regional volunteer coordinator who is aware of support groups and other resources in the local area where the woman needs help.

Kimberly Wong, Postpartum Depression Activist, shares advice for women with postpartum depression on the best places to find support for dealing with your ppd

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Kimberly Wong

Postpartum Depression Activist

Kimberly Wong, Founder and Co-Chair of the Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force, has been an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office for 17 years and serves as Special Counsel/Legislative Analyst to the Public Defender. Kimberly co-chairs the Legislative Issues Committee of the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council and is a member of the Council’s Executive Committee. As a result of suffering life-threatening postpartum depression in 2003, after her recovery, Kimberly focused on volunteer activity to promote awareness and to increase knowledge about maternal depression. She volunteered as a phone support volunteer through Postpartum Support International and then served on the Board of PSI for three years. 

In February 2007, Ms. Wong formed and currently co-chairs the Los Angeles County Perinatal Mental Health Task Force, a network of over 30 individuals representing more than 15 public and private agencies involved in outreach, screening, and treatment services for perinatal depression and related mood disorders, along with community leaders, research partners, and advocates for mothers, infants, and families. The mission of the Task Force is to create an infrastructure in Los Angeles County to address perinatal mood disorders through education, universal screening and linkage to informed services, with particular focus on high risk women and girls, including those who are court involved, substance abusers and domestic violence victims. The Task Force is a project of Community Partners, its 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. 

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