In reference to recent posts about a website referencing the PPD bill before Congress, PSI has issued this statement of clarification (below). I thought it might be helpful to read what is actually going on.
Peggy Healy, MS, IBCLC, RLC
The Art of Breastfeeding, Inc.
www.artofbreastfeeding.com
773-420-7534
It has come to
the attention of PSI that misinformation about the The
Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, due for a mark up in the Senate
H.E.L.P. committee on February 27th and its lead sponsor, Postpartum Support
International is being aggressively circulated on the web. This bulletin suggests protest against
the bill’s adoption on false belief and implies that PSI’s interest in the
legislation emanates from its funding by pharmaceuticals. These assertions
indicate the bulletin’s authors have neither read nor understood the legislation
nor sought verification of PSI’s funding sources which are available to the
public. The following is true:
1. Postpartum Support
International is not, nor has it ever been, funded by pharmaceuticals. Our
funding comes from private donations, memberships and our own fundraising
efforts. It appears our fine
organization was mischaracterized without any attempt to verify this false
assertion.
2. The Melanie Blocker Stokes
MOTHERS Act does not mandate screening, the use
of medications, or any other form of involuntary or coercive engagement in
unwanted services for perinatal mood disorders.
3. Melanie Blocker Stokes leapt to
her death as a result of postpartum psychosis which was not promptly diagnosed
and treated. Her mother, Carol Blocker has devoted her life to the passage of
this protective legislation named for her daughter. Her death was not the result
of medication misuse.
4. To further clarify and summarize,
the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act:
Encourages HHS to coordinate and continue
research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for,
postpartum conditions. Also, encourages a National Public Awareness Campaign, to
be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum
depression and psychosis.
Encourages HHS to make grants available
for projects for the establishment, operation and coordination of systems for
the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum
depression.
It
is most unfortunate that any organization would attempt to dissuade public
support of critical legislation by circulating erroneous information about the
bill’s contents and intent. Please call/visit PSI’s website at www.postpartum.net
to read the legislation or submit any questions.
Susan Dowd Stone, MSW, LCSW
President, Postpartum
Support International
NJHSS Certified Perinatal Mood Disorders
Instructor
Adjunct Lecturer, Silver School of Social Work
New York
University
www.postpartum.net
201-567-5596
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|