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NEWS & LETTERS, July 2004'Baby blues' studiedChicago--In May a panel on postpartum depression was held here. The necessity of such a meeting is seen in the disregard by the medical community of women’s health issues, especially this illness, which has resulted in women’s suicides and children’s deaths. Panelists included Carol Blocker (mother of Melanie Blocker-Stewart who committed suicide after giving birth); Dr. Sarah Allen, chairperson of Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois; and Leslie Lowell Stoutenberg, Director, Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program. The focus was on the illness, its symptoms, history of the recognition of postpartum depression, advocacy for research, and what can be done for the woman and her family. Carol Blocker has become an activist in the struggle to gain support for women suffering from postpartum depression, and agitates for legislation requiring an expansion of research on the subject at the National Institute of Mental Health. Panelists also spoke on the down side of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which protects a patient’s privacy by prohibiting the disclosure of a person’s illness. This has the potential of delaying treatment for women suffering from postpartum depression or psychosis. During the question and answer session a lawyer representing Debra Gindorf, who had murdered her two children and then attempted suicide and is now on death row, presented Debra’s story and the postcard campaign which is in support of a petition now before Gov. Blagojevich to grant Gindorf clemency. For more information go to: http://freedebra.org. The symposium showed the need to look beyond what our society sees as "the happy mother and child" into the reality of this serious illness and the consequences it may bring if ignored. --Sue |
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