Survivors Grateful for Platform to 'Speak Up'
Survivors of perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression have said often that hearing the stories of other women has helped them to heal. However, a new group of survivors has discovered that taking a public advocacy role has also played a big part in their recovery.
Nancy Sanchez
Nancy suffered for months with postpartum depression, telling no one, before finally seeking help from her doctor. Although she is a nurse who works on a daily basis with pregnant women and new mothers, she never told her story.
She was very nervous about getting involved with New Jersey's "Speak Up When You're Down" campaign, but after filming a video testimonial in January 2009, she agreed to tell her story to the media and to healthcare providers attending a training seminar on perinatal mood disorders.
Watch the video to hear Nancy describe how speaking up has helped her.
Read the video transcript.
Sylvia Lasalandra
After recovering from postpartum depression, Sylvia became an activist, speaking out on the issue and working with Mary Jo Codey on the "Speak Up When You're Down" campaign. She even wrote a book, A Daughter's Touch, which she dedicates to "All the women who are suffering today with PPD."
Adrienne Richardson
During her pregnancy, Adrienne came up with the idea to start a local women's magazine. When she came out on the other side of PPD months after her son's birth, she launched South Jersey MOM, which serves Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
She dedicates an issue every May to postpartum depression.
