Spiltmilk Radio dedicated the month of May to Mental Health Awareness Month, hosting conversations with Published Author and Poet Amanda Puyear El, who’s book Amanda vs Anxiety is available on Amazon aims to raise awareness on mental health and how to cope. Therapist Montia Brock also joined a show to discuss the causes for the lack of representation of black and lantina(x) mothers/parents in the Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder statistics.
According to National Perinatal Association 2018 Position Statements regarding Black and Latina(x) populations; there should be special consideration given to the effects of racial identification and racial status when screening mothers for PMADs who are from minority populations. Robert Keefe evaluated the differences in PMADs for Black, Latina, and White women and found that while Black women are less likely to express feelings of depression or anxiety, their rate of depression and anxiety is much higher rate than their White counterparts. He also found that Black and Latina women are less likely to seek support, treatment, and follow up after an initial psychiatric appointment.
This suggests there may be an unmet need for culturally respectful and appropriate services for these communities. Additionally, he found that when Black and Latina women sought services, the time span between symptomatology and engagement with treatment was much longer than for White women.
Here are a few resources and links for families looking for support and enhance screening, practitioners should be familiar with perinatal mood and anxiety disorder resources in their community. Contact the following organizations for more information:
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Mental Health America (MHA)
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms
https://www.mcpapformoms.org/Toolkits/Toolkit.aspx
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-women/index.shtml
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)
The Blue Dot Project – Maternal Mental Health Toolkit
https://www.thebluedotproject.org/mmh-week-2018-tool-kit
https://therapyforblackgirls.com
