POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL (PSI) WAS FOUNDED IN 1987 BY JANE HONIKMAN IN SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA. THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL CHANGES THAT WOMEN EXPERIENCE DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM. APPROXIMATELY 15% OF ALL WOMEN WILL EXPERIENCE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. UP TO 10% W
ILL EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY DURING PREGNANCY. WHEN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE MOTHER IS COMPROMISED, IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FAMILY. PSI HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, AND HAS MEMBERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS IN EVERY ONE OF THE UNITED STATES AND IN MORE THAN 36 OTHER COUNTRIES. PSI DISSEMINATES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THROUGH ITS VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS, WEBSITE AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE. ITS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CURRENT INFORMATION, RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH. THE PSI CHAPTERS PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES (SURVIVORS, PROFESSIONALS, STAKEHOLDERS) FROM ACROSS U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES TO FURTHER PSI’S MISSION AND VISION ON A LOCAL LEVEL. EVERY STATE, TERRITORY AND REGION, HAS ITS OWN RESPECTIVE SYSTEMS, OPPORTUNITIES, BARRIERS, AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES REGARDING PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH. BY PROVIDING THE STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT OF THE CHAPTERS PROGRAM, PSI EMPOWERS ADVOCATES TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR OWN AREAS. OUR CHAPTERS ARE GOVERNED BY BOARDS THAT ARE MADE UP OF ADVOCATES AND FOCUS ON RAISING AWARENESS, CREATING AND OFFERING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, AND PUSHING FOR CHANGE TO ENSURE PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH IS A PRIORITY. THE NEVADA STATE BOARD CONSISTS OF THERAPISTS, DOULAS, PERINIATAL YOGA SPECIAISTS, DOCTORS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND SURVIVORS. WE ALL VOLUNTEER OUR TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE NEVADA STATE CHAPTER OF PSI IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING AWARNESS AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO FUND SUPPORT GROUPS WITH PSI TRAINED THERAPISTS, HOST FUNDRAISING AND ADVOCACY EVENTS, WORK WITH LAW MAKERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE MORE ROBUST COVERAGE FOR PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM MOMS; AMOUNG MANY OTHER GOALS. WE HOST AN EVENT EACH FALL CALLED- CLIMB OUT OF THE DARKNESS- WHICH IS A COMMUNITY WALK AND FUNDRAISER FOR SURVIVORS, PROVIDERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND RAISE AWARENESS FOR PERINATAL MOOD AND ANXIETY DISORDERS. THE CLIMB BRINGS OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON A DARKNESS WE OFTEN DON’T SPEAK ABOUT. PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATION OF CHILDBEARING AFFECTING 1 IN 5 WOMEN AND 1 IN 10 DADS. LEFT UNTREATED THE EFFECTS OF PERINIATAL COMPLICATIONS CAN BE SEEN FOR GENERATIONS AND AFFECT THE WHOLE FAMILY.
