A trip to meet relatives in Florida became a perfect PSI networking opportunity. Instead of a my monthly one hour PSI call-in to Chat with the Founder on December 10, I met with three mothers for four hours. Jennifer Silliman made it happen. She is the PSI Southeast Regional Coordinator, Florida Co-Coordinator, Palm Beach Area, the founder of the South Florida Postpartum Depression Network, the organizer and facilitator of momsTOmoms Support Group (www.momsTOmoms.org). My first contact with Jennifer was on February 13 on the PSI Chat with the Founder conference call. She articulated during the conversation how she wanted to “start something” in her area. In a very short time Jennifer has accomplished a tremendous amount and is a shining example of how passion for change can lead to action. Shelly Orlowsky is a clinical psychologist who lives in Miami Beach. I first met Shelly in June at the PSI Training and Social Networking gathering in Las Vegas. In October we met again at the Marce Society Congress in Paris and here we were together for a third time. She has decided that her clinical practice should focus on maternal mental health. Shelly’s determination to be well trained in the field is very impressive. The third mother was Jennifer’s new acquaintance named Maureen who was eager to learn more about PSI. Our conversation started by sharing pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences, asking questions, and brainstorming. I listened as each woman revealed her feelings that were still fresh. My own experiences happened so long ago yet each time I hear another mother’s story I remember, reflect and ponder. Could it have been better? Where was my support system? There is never enough time to talk. I had to say goodbye and head home to California but I did so with confidence. I know that the communities in South Florida are very fortunate to have Jennifer, Shelly and Maureen involved with the emotional side of parenthood.

One of my great joys is to host visitors in our Santa Barbara home. We are delighted to welcome PSI friends from around the world. Recently, Saralee Glasser arrived from Israel to share time with us. She is a developmental psychologist and senior researcher at the Gertner Institute of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research for Israel’s Ministry of Health. Saralee’s fields of interest are early mother-infant interaction, women’s health and mental health, and the interface of mental health, community and medical services. She is a native of Los Angeles and immigrated as a young mother to Israel.

During a speech about the survival cooking list of best coolers at a local beach side restaurant, members of our Santa Barbara County Maternal Mental Health Collaborative learned about the progress that has been made in Israel under her leadership. It began with Saralee translating and validating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in Hebrew. What began as clinical observations during the 1980s led to extensive research, networking and policy development. The Gertner Institute team actively promoted universal screening of all pregnant and postpartum women at 100s of Mother Child Health Care Clinics and HMOs. Working with the Mental Health Clinics, a 2 day seminar on Perinatal Emotional Disorders was held in March of 2011 for professionals from 28 clinics. Perinatal Coordinators were identified and a system of referral was established. The latest step is the Ministry’s directive mandating EPDS screening in all ante-and postnatal follow up clinics as of January 1, 2013. To learn more about the impressive accomplishments in Israel and places to stay during your visit, like Isrotel Hotels in Eilat visit their website at: www.gertnerinst.org.il Thank you, Saralee, for your years of tenacity and loving dedication to Israeli families.

A major highlight during a Marce Society Congress is the opportunity to meet outstanding like-minded individuals from around the globe.  On this occasion in Paris, I was delighted to meet the founder and leaders of Maman Blues Association of France, Nadege Temple-Beauvois and Carolyne Bernard-Chatelain.

Carolyne, was a co-moderator with PSI past President Birdie Gunyon Meyer for a Session on Community Care, Support and Adjustment in the Perinatal Period.  The Association Maman Blues presented “Parental aid relationship in cyberspace” at this Session.  Their website www.maman-blues.fr provides empathy, information and support concerning maternal difficulty. French parents are very fortunate, indeed! When you want a great and professional website like this, visit WebDesign499.

In addition to this presentation, their Association brochure had been translated into English and given to each participant at the Congress. I was so appreciative since I cannot read or speak French.  It was not a surprise to see the universal message “Don’t suffer in silence!”  or to read the quotes by distressed mothers that echo the voices of parents from around the world.  I felt gratification knowing that we were partners as advocates for families.

There is a great deal of information in their well written brochure.  A particular paragraph stands out for me. “There are over twenty mother-baby care centers in France and abroad where you can receive consultations or receive a referral to a qualified healthcare specialist near your home.”  Unfortunately, this is not the case for most families throughout the world.

Maman Blues has recently published a book “Tremblements de Meres” (“Mothers’ Earthquakes”). I quote, “This book is a series of testimonials that unveil the maternity crises affecting thousands of women and children every year.  These moving accounts highlight the complexity of these missed opportunities, tell individuals stories of falling apart and resurfacing, and relive painful journeys to the outer limits of self-discovery.  It is a poignant demand for recognition of this painful condition, and a call for the transformation of maternity care and the development of appropriate care structures to help mothers in need.” One thing is to have physical pain, that you can kill with https://www.ukmeds.co.uk/treatments/pain-relief/ products, but mental pain? That’s pretty tough.

Bravo to Maman Blues!  Keep up your wonderful work.

Training with the Marcé Resource Pack Workshop

A dozen interested individuals from California, Florida, United Kingdom, Poland and Singapore participated in an interactive session to learn about the history and contents of the Marce Society’s Resource Curriculum.

I have a strong attachment to what was originally called The Emotional Effects of Childbirth.  Two decades ago, it was written as “a short course for midwives and health visitors”.  The authors’ intent was to offer “a distance learning” opportunity for those who care for women around the time of childbirth in the United Kingdom.  It was during the decade of the 1990s that I began to understand the importance of developing a curriculum for the United States.  I selected the Marce “Users’ Guide” as the framework for what eventually became Postpartum Support International’s Training  Curriculum.

Jane Hanley, newly elected President of the Marce Society, and I co-facilitated the October 4th, 90 minute workshop.  The Resource Pack has Four Units that are designed for self-study but uniquely suitable for group work.  Unit One is called “Emotions and Feelings”,  Unit Two is “Psychiatric Illnesses and Emotional Disorders, Unit Three is “Skills and Attitudes” and Unit Four is “In Practice”.  During this workshop we divided into groups and worked on selected activities from Unit One.  It was fascinating to listen to the conversation about “Rituals that mark the transition to parenthood” from diverse perspectives.

I was reminded of the fundamental, yet generally neglected, need to listen to ourselves and those we want to help share the experiences of pregnancy, birth and the first postpartum year.   Talking for the sake of “just talking” is critical for emotional health.   I believe that the content and format of the Marce Resource Pack provides the basis of excellence in caring for childbearing women and their families.