This is some what of a rant post, but while I feel as though some of my efforts toward increasing awareness for PPD in my community are taken in, however, the majority of the time I feel like I'm speaking to def ears, blind eyes, and closed minds. It's amazing to see how much support PPD has back east and I have to think that's largely in part to the incredible pioneers who continued to make PPD an issue to those who were so quick to discount it. How do I make a bigger difference? How do I open minds, hearts, ears and eyes? Is it a matter of persistence? Is it a matter of knocking on the right doors and if I have knocked on the wrong doors initially, continue knocking?
Ugh. According to the Utah PRAMS Report (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) up to 64% of Utah Mom's report mild to moderate symptoms of PPD. Hello?! Why is this not being talked about in our neck of the woods! I have been trying to speak at the annual perinatal professionals consortium to address perinatal mood disorders (with no luck as of yet) because mental health and wellness continues to not even be touched. That is just not ok to me. Midwives telling me PPD doesn't exist with homebirths. OB's telling their patient's what they are feeling is normal or they can become dependent on medication or pull up their boot straps and be strong. Can ya tell I'm a little frustrated?
So, if you have made it this far through my rant, any thoughts on how I can make a larger difference in my community/state?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi Kristin! Sorry you're so frustrated, unfortunately many clinicians share those feelings. You would think people would get it by now, wouldn't you? I did a lot of door knocking and pavement pounding in the old days and some of it made a different here and there, but I agree that it's hard to believe that SO MANY educated professionals continue to miss the boat. My best advice is to continue teaching, talking, advocating, treating, etc. Trust me, that's the best thing for you to do, and every once in a while, you KNOW you will make a difference. And then, it's all worth it. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete