FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2007

CONTACT
Leah Bucco-White, Communications and Legislative Services, 402-471-9356

 

Reach Out and Discover a New Day
HHSS Helps Moms With Pregnancy-Related Depression

Note: Sound bites on this topic are available at: http://www.hhss.ne.gov/audio/

A online media kit is available at: http://www.hhss.ne.gov/newsroom/presskits.htm

Lincoln - "I felt like a horrible mother. I was very depressed. I wasn’t enjoying my son. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was even threatening suicide and I cried all the time."

Pregnancy-related depression is serious and it’s something that can happen to anyone. It affects one in 10 women during pregnancy and one in eight after having a baby. Some people call it the "baby blues" but to many, it’s much more than feeling a little down, feeling a little blue.

"Pregnancy-related depression is not something any women should go through alone," says Sue Huffman, program manager for Perinatal, Child and Adolescent Health. "We want Moms to know the signs of pregnancy-related depression. We want them to know it’s OK to talk to someone, to ask for help and that they can and will feel better."

Experts say many women have a hard time describing their feelings during and after pregnancy. Some may be having symptoms of pregnancy-related depression like feeling restless and irritable, feeling sad and overwhelmed, crying a lot, lack of energy, eating or sleeping too little or too much, trouble focusing and feeling worthless or guilty, but they’re afraid to ask for help. Many receive little education about pregnancy-related depression from their health care providers. That’s why HHSS is reaching out to mothers through this campaign. The campaign includes brochures, posters, radio spots in English and Spanish, a Web site, www.hhss.ne.gov/MomsReachOut, and lots of resources for mothers and their families along with a helpline (1-800-862-1889).

Health care providers also play a pivotal role in identifying, screening and treating mothers with pregnancy-related depression.

"Our focus groups showed women received plenty of information about healthy babies while they were pregnant," says Dr. Joann Schaefer, chief medical officer for HHSS. "But not much information focused on the mother’s emotional reaction to pregnancy or birth. So it’s very important for providers to be in tune with not only the physical but the mental health of a pregnant woman or new mother."

A provider piece complements the campaign. A Web site, www.hhss.ne.gov/PerinatalDepression, includes pregnancy-related depression resources as well as an interactive curriculum that covers identifying and screening mothers for pregnancy-related depression and treatment options...plus a special tool kit.

HHSS is helping mothers reach out and discover a new day.

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