💝Happy Maternal Mental Health Month!
This year give a Mother's and/or Father’s Day gift that makes a meaningful impact! It’s mind-blowing to think that Perinatal Mental Health affects an estimated 800,000 new parents each year, yet many are left to suffer needless because they just don’t recognize what’s going on or know where to find resources!
Join the movement and help make a profound difference:
💐 DONATE TODAY (« click here) | Select the symbolic donation that resonates with you:
$6 for the 1 in 6 who experience infertility challenges.
$5 for the 1 in 5 moms / birthing people who experience maternal postpartum depression
$10 for the 1 in 10 dad / partners who experience paternal postpartum depression
or a fully inclusive $21 supporting all reproductive mental health challenges.
📣 SHARE ON SOCIAL | Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, or TikTok and reshare our MMH Awareness posts all month!
🪷 VOLUNTEER (« click here) | Join the movement, ignite your passions and support PSI-AZ!
✨ BIPOC-only PSI Perinatal Mental Health Training
Look at all these change-makers! It was our honor to co-host the second-ever offering of this training with Arizona Birthworkers of Color. Thank you trainers, volunteers, and attendees! It’s exciting to think about the profound impact these passionate providers will have with this newly found knowledge. Here’s to collaboratively improving maternal AND child health outcomes in Arizona!
See some highlights on our Instagram Stories Highlight here.
🪩A Resounding Success: Our Inaugural BIPOC Maternal Mental Health Networking Mixer
Thank you to all who made the first-ever BIPOC Networking Mixer a HUGE success! We enjoyed a powerful gathering of Perinatal (pregnancy, birth and postpartum) providers of Color and their Allies which allowed our community to deepen their relationships and discuss innovative solutions to advance maternal health equity in Arizona.
We extend tremendous gratitude to our events sponsors!
See more photos on Facebook here.
🏆 Six New AZ “PMH-C” Providers
Please help us welcome our newest Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) specialists across three Arizona counties! We’ve achieved 27% workforce capacity as a state and we’re committed to transforming our Perinatal Mental Health workforce desert into a thriving oasis of informed, equitable and accessible providers!
Dr. Azuka Okafo, CNM, PMH-C | Fort Defiance
Penelope Hatter, LMFT, PMH-C | Chandler
Brittany Andrews, MS, LPC, PMH-C | Phoenix
Erin Gauvin, LCSW, PMH-C | Mesa
Savannah Robbins, BSN, RN, PMH-C | Tucson
Erin Gauvin, LCSW, PMH-C | Tucson
Congratulations! 🏆
Interested in learning more about getting your PMH-C? We’re here to help!
🎓 Limited Scholarships Still Available! 😲
We’ve awarded over 200+ scholarships so far this year and… we still have a limited number of training and exam scholarships available! Act now as they’re going fast! We continue to prioritize:
Providers of Color
Providers serving rural counties - especially those in Apache, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, LaPaz, Navajo, and Santa Cruz counties.
Providers who accept AHCCCS
Huge amounts of gratitude to BCBS of AZ Foundation and Arizona Department of Health Services for your support!
Next scholarship application deadline is May 18 @ midnight AZ time.
🗓️ Upcoming Events
☯️Arizona's Maternal Mental Health Crisis: Shifting Stigma and Shame to Resilience and Resolve
TUESDAY, May 21, 10 -11 a | VIRTUAL
In the latest Arizona Department of Health Services report, pregnancy-related deaths increased by 44% and the leading cause was maternal mental health.
On May 21, Dr. Kathryn Emerick, perinatal psychiatrist, and Elizabeth Wood, Postpartum Support International - AZ Chapter Board Chair, will share what is working well in maternal mental health, what's left to be done, and how you can make an impact so that no family is left to suffer in silence. Register here.
🎬 Fair Play Screening
SUNDAY, May 19, 1 -3:30 p | Tucson, AZ
Join Arizona Perinatal Psychiatry Access Line for a FREE screening of Fair Play; a documentary that makes the invisible caretaking work – historically held by women – visible, inspiring a more balanced future for all. The event includes a post-film panel discussion. Secure your tickets here: https://apal.arizona.edu/fair-play.
P.S. If you have children, they and one adult can receive a free ticket to the Tucson Children’s Museum.
✨ Equity & Access Group Lunchtime Conversation
THURSDAY, May 23, 12 -1p | VIRTUAL
In support of Maternal Mental Health Day, Mental Health Awareness Month and Women's Health Care Month, we are digging deeper into mental health challenges that impact us. We’ll be discussing Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman while keeping it lighthearted by viewing few comedic shorts by famous mothers (Ali Wong, Amy Shumer). We welcome all perinatal providers of color and their allies!! Register Now
🌵 Using Peers to Support Maternal Mental Health - Fireside Chat
THURSDAY, June 27, 10:30 -11:30 a | VIRTUAL
Featuring Michelle Lacy, Executive Director of Women’s Health Innovation (WHI) of Arizona! Joy Burkhard (Executive Director the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health) and Michelle will discuss how and why WHI came to hire certified peer support specialists and how they have helped this clinical practice meet mothers where they are and support them while waiting for a therapist. Register Today!
🗣️Do You Have a Perinatal Mental Health Job to Fill?
Share your organization’s PMH job posting which gets over 1,500 views. Jobs will be included in our monthly eNews: 1 month for $30. Contact: psi.arizona1@gmail.com
With Gratitude,
Elizabeth Wood, Arizona Chapter Chair
Postpartum Support International