This is certainly the week for major announcements supportive of Maternal Mental Health!
Susan Moreno from the Tucson Citizen wrote today (August 18th):
FIRST OF ITS KIND CENTER FOR MOMS WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
The Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (TPDC) and CODAC Behavioral Health Services will host the Grand Opening of Mother’s Oasis: Center for Emotional Wellness on Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 4:30-6:30at 1067 E Silverlake Drive (85713).
Senator Linda Lopez, Elizabeth Jiminez (State Director for Healthy Families), and mothers who have experienced severe postpartum depression are scheduled to speak about the importance of a center dedicated to the emotional wellness of mothers.
“This is the first center of its kind in the entire country,” says founder Carole Sheehan, M.A. R.N, , President of the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition. “Mother’s Oasis is now open to meet the special needs of women who are experiencing the troubling effects of pregnancy- and postpartum anxiety and depression.”
Maternal Depression is the number one predictor of future behavioral and cognitive problems in children. Therefore, a mother’s mental and emotional wellness are key to family health and survival. Unfortunately, however, each year around 4,000 women in Pima County suffer with anxiety and depression around childbirth. Many are not identified or treated, leading to chronic depression for the mother and challenges for the child(ren) as well.
Mother’s Oasis will offer support groups, therapy, doula services, yoga and zumba classes and connections to other community resources, such as parenting classes and behavioral health services. Services are offered at no cost.
CODAC is providing physical space to TPDC for the Mother’s Oasis free of charge, which compliments CODAC’s Healthy Families, Mother’s Caring About Self (intensive outpatient) and Las Amigas (residential treatment) programs.
All media are invited to attend the grand opening to learn of this first-of-its-kind center. For more information, please contact Kristine Welter at [email protected] or 260-2771.
Congratulations to this group of dedicated advocates for staying the course and setting a new benchmark for maternal mental health support!