Raising awareness the focus of Post Partum Mood Disorders Forum in Peel Region

Singer Amy Sky featured guest speaker

October 23, 2007(Brampton) – One in five mothers experience a Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD) after childbirth. When applied to the Peel region’s birthrate, this startling statistic suggests that PPMD affects 3,000 families in the area every year. This serious mental health challenge will be the subject of a special forum bringing together leading experts along with Juno Award nominee Amy Sky, who will speak about her own struggle with Post Partum Mood Disorders.

The forum, taking place on Friday, November 2, 2007 at the Holiday Inn Select, 30 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, is being organized by the Peel Postpartum Mood Disorder Committee, a partnership of 11 agencies including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Region of Peel, working together to provide seamless health services to families in the Region of Peel. The event is aimed at caregivers and service providers who assist women and families.

“Many of us are familiar with postpartum depression but do not realize that PMD also includes anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and mania. ” says Monica Irwin, a Public Health Nurse and Coordinator of the Peel Region Post Partum Mood Disorders Committee.

A recent study by the Public Health Research, Education and Development program in Peel revealed that there is not a very high-awareness amongst Peel residents about the symptoms of PMD.

“Stigma plays a large part of why women and families do not seek help,” said, Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis, a leading researcher in the area of Postpartum Mood Disorders. “I am excited to be speaking at this event to give people a better understanding of PPMD and the importance of providing support.”

Juno Award nominee, Amy Sky knows only too well the struggle that women and families must confront when dealing with PPMD. In the weeks following the birth of her daughter, she experienced extreme episodes of fatigue, was overwhelmed by her physical exhaustion and found it difficult to care for her daughter on her own. Shortly after, Amy began to hear voices and have frightening hallucinations. Amy’s doctor suggested called she might have postpartum depression, and prescribed anti-depressants.

Uninformed and in denial, Amy refused treatment and struggled for months with symptoms. She was gradually free from the sudden panic attacks and crushing emotional lows that prevented her from enjoying the arrival of her daughter. In the years following, Amy learned about the syndrome, and sought treatment to prevent recurrence. She now uses her artistic talents to raise awareness of postpartum depression to ensure that woman experiencing similar symptoms come forward instead of hiding their pain.

The Peel Postpartum Mood Disorders Committee consists of the Success by 6 Peel, the Vita Centre for Pregnant and Parenting Youth, Credit Valley Hospital, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Peel Children’s Centre, Caledon Parent-Child Centre, Distress Centre Peel, Peel Infant Development and the Mississauga Parent and Child Resource Centres.

Featured speakers include:

Amy Sky
Candian Singer/Songwriter and PMD survivor

Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis
Leading researcher in the area of Postpartum Mood Disorders

Grazyna Mancewicz
Social Worker, St. Joseph’s Women’s Health Centre

Amy Sky will be available from 11am-1pm for interviews (prior confirmation is preferred). For more information or to schedule an interview with Amy Sky, please contact Michael Torres, CAMH Media Relations at 416-595-6015

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.