The spring has brought several historic moments to the life of our issue and to PSI’s advocacy involvement in its promotion:
On May 2nd, a Congressional hearing was held by Congressman Bobby L. Rush on The Melanie Blocker Stokes Research and Care Act. Several co-sponsors attended this hearing where testimony was given by Dr. Nada Stotland, Dr. Kathy Rocca, Carol Blocker, PSI President’s Advisory Council Member and Former N. J. First Lady Mary Jo Codey and others. The bill now has over 119 co-sponsors and seems destined for passage. The momentum is clearly in our favor. Attempts to sidetrack the bill’s progress with calls for inclusion of research for post abortion depression were presented; we hope such discussions will not delay progress of the primary bill through Congress.
On May 11th, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez held a Capitol Hill press conference with Congressman Bobby L. Rush to support passage of bothThe MOTHER’s Act and the Melanie Blocker Stokes Research and Care Act. Both legislators gave compelling testimony and overview of the legislation’s history and urgency. Senator Menendez noted that this issue has been “too long ignored by Congress”.
Actress Brooke Shields gave an impassioned plea to Congress and stated these bills would be “an easy gift to give women for Mother’s Day”. We are very grateful to Ms. Shields for her participation as the press conference received unprecedented national coverage in multiple media contexts. Thanks, Brooke, for so graciously lending your star power to this issue! It’s never easy for these courageous women to recount their struggles with this devastating illness.
Also urging the need for immediate passage of the legislation was President Advisory Council members Mary Jo Codey and author Sylvia Lasalandra who brought the house down by threatening to return to DC “with my Sicilian mother in her housecoat”, if this legislation is not passed this year!
Carol Blocker’s emotional account of her daughter’s death by suicide stopped breath. An advocate for many years for the bill named after her daughter, Melanie Blocker Stokes, Carol has tireless pursued the need for education of health professionals and mothers alike. We are honored that she has agreed to join PSI’s President’s Advisory Council.
PSI’s consistent advocacy in this regard for over twenty years, earned us the introduction by Senator Menendez as “the leading organization in the U.S. on perinatal mental health”. PSI’s inclusiveness and focus on networking with other organizations who share our mission helps unify and strengthen the issue’s national voice. With much pride in our organization’s historic contributions which started 20 years ago when Jane Honikman founded PSI, I added our message to the Congressional challenge, noting that the science clearly backs the need for responsive legislative and social action to this public health crisis. You can see an excerpted video of the press conference in our legislative update section; the full presentation will be available soon.
We would like to thank Emma Palmer in Senator Menendez’s office for her hard work orchestrating and promoting this event along with Aysha Moshi from Congressman Rush’s office. These two women work on the legislative promotion of these initiatives EVERY DAY and need our help. The MOTHER’s Act still needs Senate co-sponsors to please continue your pursuit of endorsement by your state legislators! This continues to be critical! You can find the contact information for your state senators in our legislative update section.
On Saturday, May 12th, the day before Mother’s Day, I was in Chicago with Carol Blocker, Melanie’s daughter Sommer Skyy and Dr. Sam Blocker to present Congressman Bobby L. Rush with PSI’s first Melanie Blocker Stokes Leadership Award at Operation Blue
 |
 |
Lady. Organized by Tann Moore of Power and Purpose Productions, the day also featured an expert panel of local and national advocates including former PSI president Dr. Shoshana Bennett, Postpartum Progress blog author Katherine Stone, and a book signing by PSI President’s Advisory Council member Sylvia Lasalandra (A Daughter’s Touch). Also attending were PSI President’s Advisory Council Member Joan Mudd and PSI Executive board member Birdie Meyer who will unveil PSI’s new certificate preconference program at our June conference. Many thanks to Thyatiria Townsend and Toure Mohammed from Congressman Rush’s office for their hard work in helping to organize the event. Spence Moore was an invaluable team member throughout the project’s implementation, getting the media set up to record this historic moment.
Check PSI in the News for updates on the extensive coverage generated by these combined efforts.
CBS Cares our consistently supportive partner has once again outdone themselves in reaching to new markets to spread the message. Throughout May, the CBS Cares public service announcements on postpartum depression featuring Kathryn Morris and Danny Pino will air on over 30,000 American Airlines flights on Eye on American.
Next up: PSI’s annual conference in June – it seems we have again exceeded previous conferences in participation and support. We hope to see all of you there!
In closing, many thanks for your own efforts to curb the devastation of perinatal mood disorders through your local and regional advocacy and to turn the tide irrevocably in favor of more research, education and treatment for women, children and families everywhere.
Warmly,
Susan