Having a baby is a happy time for most women, but many women feel sad, afraid, or anxious after childbirth. While many women experience some mild mood change, or "blues," during or after the birth of a child, 10–15% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, which is a more serious problem called postpartum depression (PPD). In this podcast, DBSA talks to Dr. Shoshana Bennett, a two–time survivor of life–threatening, undiagnosed postpartum depression, and Susan Dowd Stone, an award–winning psychotherapist, author, and mental health expert who has been a staunch advocate for the Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (H.R. 20, S.1375) legislation that will provide PPD public awareness campaigns, education, and funding for research and vital services.

Speakers:

Allen Doederlein, DBSA President, DBSA

Dr. Ellen Frank, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine / DBSA Board member and DBSA Scientific Advisory Board member

DBSA's Allen Doederlein speaks with Dr. Ellen Frank about Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, an innovative psychotherapy that she and her colleagues developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. This treatment has been proven effective in preventing and reducing the recurrence the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

An Update with Dr. Kenneth Towbin, MD

Chief of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

DBSA Parent Volunteer Coordinator Julia Small speaks with Dr. Towbin about NIMH’s ongoing research, which will further our understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder and related mood disorders in children and adolescents. NIMH’s clinical work focuses on the differences of brain function and brain processing between children and adolescents with classic episodic bipolar disorder and chronic severe irritability. Learn more about NIMH’s research here: http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov/BipolarDisorderPediatric.aspx