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Hyattsville, MD – June 2, 2006 – Are you a woman who experienced depression during and after your pregnancy? If so, we need you!!!. The Mental Health Association of Prince George’s County, Inc. (MHAPGC) and Community Crisis Services, Inc (CCSI) are collaborating to conduct focus groups with women who have experienced perinatal depression. We are interested in learning how women with depression during and/or after pregnancy recognized they needed help and where they found it. The focus groups will be held on Saturday, June 24 at Southern Maryland Hospital from 9:00 am – 12 noon and Doctor’s CommunityHospitalfrom 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm. The MHAPGC and CCSI are seeking 30 participants (15 each) for the groups. Call MHAPGC at 301-699-2737 or CCSI at 1-800-773-6667 to register for this event.
Perinatal depression is a condition that describes a wide range of physical and emotional changes or mood disorders that occur either during pregnancy or within the first 12 months following delivery. Perinatal depression in its mildest form, commonly called “baby blues”, afflicts up to 80 percent of new mothers. Severe depression during the late pregnancy or postpartum periods may affect as many as 20 percent of new mothers.
Perinatal depression is a significant public health concern. However, 80% of women go undiagnosed. The last thing moms-to-be want to think about during pregnancy is the possibility that after nine months of anticipation, they'll be too unhappy to enjoy their new babies. We read about perinatal depression in the news all the time – oftentimes the results are tragic.
Any of these symptoms during and after pregnancy that last longer than two weeks are signs of depression: feeling restless or irritable; feeling sad, hopeless, and overwhelmed; crying a lot; having no energy or motivation; eating too little or too much; sleeping too little or too much; trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions; feeling worthless and guilty; loss of interest or pleasure in activities; withdrawal from friends and family; having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (the heart beating fast and feeling like it is skipping beats); or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing). After pregnancy, signs of depression may also include being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself and not having any interest in the baby.
Please join the MHAPGC and CCSI for these free and very important focus groups.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David DeClark
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
301-877-5539
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