224: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month with Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D., PMH-C

Welcome! Today’s show highlights some important upcoming dates in the world of perinatal mental health as we celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Stay tuned for the end as I have an exciting update to share with you. This podcast is very important to me. My purpose is to foster and provide space for people’s stories but to balance those experiences with a clinical perspective with proven experts in the field. As I say often, we need to raise awareness with information and education to reduce the stigma related to perinatal mental health conditions. Along with that awareness, I want to empower people further to seek help and support without shame or embarrassment. Thank you for coming along for the ride, and don’t forget to share the podcast and available resources with a friend or loved one who might benefit. I’m sharing a lot of helpful resources in this episode, so don’t miss out! Join me! Show Highlights: Important dates in May, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week: May 2-6.  How you can help spread the awareness: Share your story on social media and use the Postpartum Support International hashtag #maternalMHmatters.  Like the PSI Facebook page and adopt the MMHday Twibbon on your Facebook or Twitter profile picture. Tell your story on our blog to help raise awareness of maternal mental health issues so that more women will get treatment and fewer will suffer. Come up with your own ideas to highlight that #maternalMHmatters in your area, and let others know by submitting your event details to us via email. Use our infographic to highlight that maternal mental health is a global issue.    World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day: May 4.  There are worldwide efforts to raise awareness through social media, local events, and virtual events through PSI. Learn more at www.wmhday.postpartum.net.  JOIN US to raise awareness around the globe: @postpartumhelp on Twitter and @postpartumsupportinternational on Facebook Perinatal Psychosis Awareness Day: May 6.  PSI has a Postpartum Psychosis Task Force, which is led by individuals with lived experience and includes providers, researchers, advocates, and PSI staff/board members.  The task force organizes around actions to improve public and provider awareness, increase and improve resources, reduce stigma, and provide legal and legislative advocacy.  The goal of the task force is to develop resources and integrate knowledge and sensitivity about the experience of perinatal psychosis and the unique insights of survivor-advocates into all perinatal mental health advocacy, awareness, education, resources, and services.  Other organizations joining PSI in leading the charge in these areas include Cherished Mom, Maternal Mental Health NOW, 2020 Mom, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA), and more.  My exciting update: I have been elected to be the next Board Chair of PSI, starting in July 2022. After volunteering with PSI for many years and serving in various capacities, I’m very proud and honored to take this post and follow in the footsteps of some amazing people who have gone before me! Resources: Postpartum Support International Postaprtum   Find PSI on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   Cherished Mom  Maternal Mental Health NOW  2020 Mom Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA)