Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Postpartum Support International
In recent months if you have heard me speaking at an event I will most likely have mentioned PSI http://postpartum.net/ and their mission for mothers affected by a perinatal mood disorder of 'you are not alone, you are not to blame and with help, you will get better'.
Well today my membership pack arrived so I felt I should share it. I first heard of PSI when I had written my book but wondered if it would 'translate' to USA. I asked the then President of PSI Diana Lynn Barnes http://www.postpartumhealth.com/html/dlb.html if she would look at it. Not only did she give it high praise but she also wrote a foreword for it. Since then we have become internet friends and one day hope to meet. I was so pleased for her recently when she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to postpartum illness.
Last autumn when I spoke at the Marce Society conference in Sydney my room mate was Jane Honikman - the lady who founded PSI back in 1987.http://www.janehonikman.com/ What an honour!
I am delighted to be part of such a wonderful group which continues to help families the world over.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) was founded in 1987 by Jane Honikman and is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. Approximately 15% of all women will experience postpartum depression following the birth of a child. Up to 10% will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy. When the mental health of the mother is compromised, it affects the entire family.
The organization has a volunteer coordinator in every one of the United States and in 26 countries. PSI disseminates information and resources through the volunteer coordinators, the website and an annual conference. The goal is to provide current information, resources, education, and to advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health.
I hope I can be a useful PSI member!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Well today my membership pack arrived so I felt I should share it. I first heard of PSI when I had written my book but wondered if it would 'translate' to USA. I asked the then President of PSI Diana Lynn Barnes http://www.postpartumhealth.com/html/dlb.html if she would look at it. Not only did she give it high praise but she also wrote a foreword for it. Since then we have become internet friends and one day hope to meet. I was so pleased for her recently when she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to postpartum illness.
Last autumn when I spoke at the Marce Society conference in Sydney my room mate was Jane Honikman - the lady who founded PSI back in 1987.http://www.janehonikman.com/ What an honour!
I am delighted to be part of such a wonderful group which continues to help families the world over.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) was founded in 1987 by Jane Honikman and is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. Approximately 15% of all women will experience postpartum depression following the birth of a child. Up to 10% will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy. When the mental health of the mother is compromised, it affects the entire family.
The organization has a volunteer coordinator in every one of the United States and in 26 countries. PSI disseminates information and resources through the volunteer coordinators, the website and an annual conference. The goal is to provide current information, resources, education, and to advocate for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health.
I hope I can be a useful PSI member!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Virtual clinic?
I have recently received this message which may be of interest.
Invitation to participate – Internet-based anxiety and depression programs
Clinicians and researchers at St Vincent’s Hospital and UNSW are now evaluating new Internet education and treatment programs for anxiety and depression. These programs are free, and are designed to help people understand their symptoms and how to start to get control over those symptoms.
People with anxiety or depression are invited to read more about the programs at www.virtualclinic.org.au and, if interested, to make an application to participate. The researchers are currently recruiting people with generalised anxiety disorder and will soon be recruiting people with panic disorder, depression, and social phobia. If you would be interested to participate, please visit their website for more information.
From the team at beyondblue
beyondblue: the national depression initiative
PO Box 6100
HAWTHORN WEST VIC 3122
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Invitation to participate – Internet-based anxiety and depression programs
Clinicians and researchers at St Vincent’s Hospital and UNSW are now evaluating new Internet education and treatment programs for anxiety and depression. These programs are free, and are designed to help people understand their symptoms and how to start to get control over those symptoms.
People with anxiety or depression are invited to read more about the programs at www.virtualclinic.org.au and, if interested, to make an application to participate. The researchers are currently recruiting people with generalised anxiety disorder and will soon be recruiting people with panic disorder, depression, and social phobia. If you would be interested to participate, please visit their website for more information.
From the team at beyondblue
beyondblue: the national depression initiative
PO Box 6100
HAWTHORN WEST VIC 3122
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Monday, 25 May 2009
Brighter Futures!
Once in a while you meet someone who lights up a room just by being there - I have recently had the pleasure of meeting such a lady. She is called Janet and is involved with a group called Brighter Futures based in Selby, North Yorkshire.
Janet represents the ideal person to help those of us affected by mental health issues - she is warm, friendly, empathetic and fun to be with.
Have a look at http://brighterfutures4u.org.uk
They meet on a weekly basis and they
aim to provide a
friendly, informal, optimistic,
stigma free and confidential
environment in which people living with emotional
& mental distress and their carers, friends,
family members can meet together.
You may be feeling isolated and low for a variety of reasons including family/relationship problems, work stress, unemployment and/or financial issues.
Even if you are not in that geographical area have a look at the pictures and jokes on their site - bet you cannot resist a smile!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Janet represents the ideal person to help those of us affected by mental health issues - she is warm, friendly, empathetic and fun to be with.
Have a look at http://brighterfutures4u.org.uk
They meet on a weekly basis and they
aim to provide a
friendly, informal, optimistic,
stigma free and confidential
environment in which people living with emotional
& mental distress and their carers, friends,
family members can meet together.
You may be feeling isolated and low for a variety of reasons including family/relationship problems, work stress, unemployment and/or financial issues.
Even if you are not in that geographical area have a look at the pictures and jokes on their site - bet you cannot resist a smile!
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Nursing in Practice event
Today I spoke at the excellent Nursing in Practice event held in the impressive Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/
It was my first event for them so I had a relatively small seminar room which was completely full! So I hope to be asked to return! My book is going to be reviewed for both their journal and the CPHVA - the UK's leading professional organisation for health visitors, school nurses, nursery nurses and other community nurses working in primary care.
http://www.amicus-cphva.org/
Nursing in Practice have written their account of the day here
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=NursinginPracticereturnstoManchester&page=article.display&article.id=16734
As a speaker it is always good to be given plenty of information before the event, your presentation up and running ready for you and generally being 'looked after' - the NiP team certainly did that. Lunch in the Green Room was a real treat - thank you!
Due to attending a meeting in the morning I wasn't able to catch other presentations other than a fascinating one by the Royal Northern College of Music on their project on 'Music for Health'. http://www.rncm.ac.uk/
See future events here
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?page=event.home
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
It was my first event for them so I had a relatively small seminar room which was completely full! So I hope to be asked to return! My book is going to be reviewed for both their journal and the CPHVA - the UK's leading professional organisation for health visitors, school nurses, nursery nurses and other community nurses working in primary care.
http://www.amicus-cphva.org/
Nursing in Practice have written their account of the day here
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=NursinginPracticereturnstoManchester&page=article.display&article.id=16734
As a speaker it is always good to be given plenty of information before the event, your presentation up and running ready for you and generally being 'looked after' - the NiP team certainly did that. Lunch in the Green Room was a real treat - thank you!
Due to attending a meeting in the morning I wasn't able to catch other presentations other than a fascinating one by the Royal Northern College of Music on their project on 'Music for Health'. http://www.rncm.ac.uk/
See future events here
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?page=event.home
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
What is missing from the NICE guidelines on APMH?
This morning I felt honoured to be welcomed into a meeting for the Perinatal Psychology Special Interest Group of the British Psychological Society.
The group aims are here
http://www.bps.org.uk/ppsig/ppsig_home.cfm
The purpose of the meeting was to look at the NICE guidelines on antenatal and postnatal mental health http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG45
As it is two years since these guidelines were produced they are due for review and we met to uncover what is missing from them and to back up or data with research evidence which has appeared since its publication.
The general attitude was that we were pleased that the guidelines had been produced as it had put the subject on a higher profile. However, there were many areas we felt were lacking.
Fundamentally we felt the main issue was that the mother was considered in relative isolation and very little importance placed on the effects on the infant, the partner and long-term effects if left untreated.
Are you involved with the NICE guidelines? What do you feel is missing?
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
The group aims are here
http://www.bps.org.uk/ppsig/ppsig_home.cfm
The purpose of the meeting was to look at the NICE guidelines on antenatal and postnatal mental health http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG45
As it is two years since these guidelines were produced they are due for review and we met to uncover what is missing from them and to back up or data with research evidence which has appeared since its publication.
The general attitude was that we were pleased that the guidelines had been produced as it had put the subject on a higher profile. However, there were many areas we felt were lacking.
Fundamentally we felt the main issue was that the mother was considered in relative isolation and very little importance placed on the effects on the infant, the partner and long-term effects if left untreated.
Are you involved with the NICE guidelines? What do you feel is missing?
Elaine
www.hanzak.com
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