Screening Matters: Postpartum Research Initiative
Donation protected
The Quick Story:
As a mom of two who suffered severely with postpartum depression, I have felt the significant impact of maternal mental illness. As a measurement specialist, I understand how critical it is to have a way of reaching the up to 50% of women who are not being identified by currently used screeners.
This funding will support the development of an innovative screening tool for postpartum mental illness. Studies have shown that current screening tools might be missing up to 50% of women and their cut off scores for probable depression are not validated for young mothers, mothers who identify as racial/ethnic minorities, or mothers of low income status. This newly developed screener will mitigate barriers to identification, and therefore treatment, such as literacy, language, and perceived stigma. Funding will specifically be used for content development and testing.
The Personal Story:
One year ago, my daughter Abigail was born and my life changed forever. I was hospitalized for postpartum depression, which nearly wrecked my family. The system didn't work for me. The system is broken. The system misses up to 50% of women who are struggling just like me. Women who also mourn the lost moments. Women who also walk around their home in fear because the memories of the horrible things that happened won't fade.
I am not going to stand idly by while another woman, all other women, MY DAUGHTER, are all pushed through this system that is allowing mothers to suffer in silence. If you aren't aware of the impact of PPD, I encourage you to visit https://www.2020mom.org/remembrance-wall. I was almost one of these faces.
I have taken it to be my mission to develop a new screening instrument for postpartum depression that DOES NOT MISS WOMEN and empowers providers to have necessary conversations with mothers. Unfortunately... this work comes with a need for funding.
So....
If you have it in your heart to donate, even a dollar, I would be forever grateful. All donated funds will support the development and testing of the screener. If you'd like to learn more, I'd be happy to share. The gofundme can be found here: www.gofundme.com/validateppd.
This work is going to change the course of history. There is no other option. Mothers are dying, families are breaking, babies are suffering later in life as a result. I hope you will consider contributing to this work... investing in me... investing in mothers.
As a mom of two who suffered severely with postpartum depression, I have felt the significant impact of maternal mental illness. As a measurement specialist, I understand how critical it is to have a way of reaching the up to 50% of women who are not being identified by currently used screeners.
This funding will support the development of an innovative screening tool for postpartum mental illness. Studies have shown that current screening tools might be missing up to 50% of women and their cut off scores for probable depression are not validated for young mothers, mothers who identify as racial/ethnic minorities, or mothers of low income status. This newly developed screener will mitigate barriers to identification, and therefore treatment, such as literacy, language, and perceived stigma. Funding will specifically be used for content development and testing.
The Personal Story:
One year ago, my daughter Abigail was born and my life changed forever. I was hospitalized for postpartum depression, which nearly wrecked my family. The system didn't work for me. The system is broken. The system misses up to 50% of women who are struggling just like me. Women who also mourn the lost moments. Women who also walk around their home in fear because the memories of the horrible things that happened won't fade.
I am not going to stand idly by while another woman, all other women, MY DAUGHTER, are all pushed through this system that is allowing mothers to suffer in silence. If you aren't aware of the impact of PPD, I encourage you to visit https://www.2020mom.org/remembrance-wall. I was almost one of these faces.
I have taken it to be my mission to develop a new screening instrument for postpartum depression that DOES NOT MISS WOMEN and empowers providers to have necessary conversations with mothers. Unfortunately... this work comes with a need for funding.
So....
If you have it in your heart to donate, even a dollar, I would be forever grateful. All donated funds will support the development and testing of the screener. If you'd like to learn more, I'd be happy to share. The gofundme can be found here: www.gofundme.com/validateppd.
This work is going to change the course of history. There is no other option. Mothers are dying, families are breaking, babies are suffering later in life as a result. I hope you will consider contributing to this work... investing in me... investing in mothers.
Organizer
Amanda Gorham
Organizer
North Brookfield, MA