Changing the World – Want in?

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In the four years I’ve been doing this work, there’s one word I’ve heard uttered in response to the question “Why aren’t you in therapy/seeing a doctor/getting help?”

MONEY.

These moms, these mothers stranded in the darkness, so lost that many of them are sure suicide is the only way out, are stopped from getting help because they can’t AFFORD IT. They’re just above the line for assistance. Or their assistance ran out because they’re past 8weeks postpartum (which, by the way, is when most Medicaid for pregnant mothers runs out and ALSO when Postpartum manifests) Or the state they live in (I’m looking at YOU, South Carolina) classifies Postpartum Depression as an EXCLUSIONARY condition within the Department of Mental Health, cutting them off from assistance for therapy and other treatment options after Medicaid runs out.

MONEY, people.

It’s killing our mothers. Impairing their ability to recover. To function. To fully parent their children. To fully be themselves. It’s leaving them desperate and out in the cold without a warm hand to hold. It’s hurting our children’s chances at a successful life. Did you know that when you treat a postpartum mother successfully, her CHILDREN have a better chance at growing up and not developing issues with mental health? Weissman et al in 2006 treated 151 depressed mother/child pairs. Of the mothers treated, 33% of the children improved their behavior. Only 12% did not. This is not just a mom issue. This is a SOCIETAL issue. True mental health care starts with Moms. And we, as a society, are ignoring them.

It needs to stop.

In Karen Kleiman’s book, Therapy & The Postpartum Woman, there’s a bold yet tragic statement made not too far into the book in regards to finances and therapy: “There is no easy solution for this barrier to treatment.”

As women, we explain away why we can’t afford to spend money on our own wellness. We can’t afford to miss work. We have bills to pay. Our kids need this or that. The family needs this. I have to ask my husband first. The house.. the car… the …. this… that… STOP. Just stop.

YOU ARE WORTH IT.

And if you truly can’t afford the care, if you don’t have insurance, if the therapist doesn’t take insurance and the sliding scale doesn’t work with your realistic budget, if the therapist doesn’t have a sliding scale – I have a solution. But I am going to need a hell of a lot of help to make it become a reality. Postpartum women deserve a voice. They deserve to have it heard by a trained and knowledgeable professional so they can recover and live life with their children, their loved ones, and themselves to the fullest.

Will you help me?

I have a dream.

A non-profit which helps women pay therapy bills. Helps to alleviate medication costs. Possibly childcare so they CAN go to their appointments. For therapists and professionals to participate in this network, they would be required to maintain certification in regards to Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders. Guaranteed knowledgeable professionals and financial assistance? We can do this.

This is  idea has been marinating for quite some time now. Not too long ago, I had a discussion with a dear friend of mine. She can’t go to therapy because of the cost. Because it costs to see the doctor. It costs to see the therapist. It costs for the case manager. She can’t afford it. Won’t go on meds because she can’t afford the return visit and would have to go off cold-turkey after just one month until she could afford to go again. She’s applied for assistance but someone is dragging their feet. She’s not postpartum but she’s stuck in limbo and struggling like hell just to stay afloat. It’s not right.

I can’t keep this idea to myself any longer. It’s time to set it free. To make it a reality.

Beyond the above idea, I don’t have a plan. I don’t know where to start. I need help. I need people knowledgeable about setting up non-profits. I need people knowledgeable about medical billing and how we would even begin to provide assistance. Fund-raising. Research. The whole nine yards. I need volunteers. I need professionals familiar with mental health willing to serve on an advisory board. On a board. If you can’t help directly, share this post with someone who might be able to help. Or with someone who knows someone – make this viral. Postpartum women deserve to not have to add “worried about cost” to their concerns.

I can’t do this alone. But together we can drastically change the landscape of hope for women with Postpartum Depression. We can make recovery a reality for so many.

Are you in?

Let’s talk.

Let’s do this.

This entry was posted in postpartum depression on by .

About LHale

Sassy, outspoken, laughing, football loving, F1 & MotoGP fanatic, coffee and beer snob, bacon addicted Mama blogging about Postpartum Mood Disorders as she tries to figure out her new place in this world. C'mon along for the ride, won't ya?

23 thoughts on “Changing the World – Want in?”

  4. Sandy

    I have said “I can’t afford help because….” so many times. Just reading this seed of an idea has made me breathe a sigh of relief. For me and for others who feel it too. I’ll be sharing this as much as I can.

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  8. Alex Pankratz

    Kick-starter is great for stuff like this, and if you research 501e non-profits it will give you a battle plan. Awesome idea, though. People are shocked when I tell them I don’t go because of a three year old and no sitter.

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  10. AddyB

    I want in-because I’ve been there. I’ve suffered due to lack of insurance and finances. It sucks. State programs suck because they lack enough funding to hire people who are specialists in this area and who know what they are doing. I saw a “state funded” therapist and HE sat there and told me, “well you’re a single mom, of course you feel this way. There’s nothing wrong with you, at all. You’re not any different than any other single mom out there. Relax-youre fine.” I never went back. My stepdad runs a business and a nonprofit in Philly. I can pick his brain and ask him some questions about starting up-I will. I’ll forward this post to him and ask him to reach out to his business and politician friends to see if anyone has a connection you can use or a person who can help somehow. I’ll ask my old client-he has a nonprofit as well.

    I’ll help in any and every way I can. Please keep us posted and let us know how we can help make this happen. I’ll email you with any and everything I find.

    Thank you for sharing your idea, your vision-no woman should have to suffere because she can’t afford care.

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  12. jamesandjax

    Hi Lauren. If I can help in any way, I am happy to do so. If money weren’t an issue, I would probably still go to therapy, even though I feel better now. If money weren’t an issue after Jax was born, I probably would have gone to therapy much sooner than I did. Please email me if you think of any way for me to help you with this effort.

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  15. Cat @ Postpartum Thoughts

    i totally want to help. i have work experience in the financial side of the healthcare industry, but i don’t necessarily know how my skills would directly apply at this point. please contact me if you want to discuss. also, postpartum progress provides great information and is a non-profit, so i wonder if you could contact the founder for advice?

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  16. Erica

    Lauren, you are so right…once upon a time I couldn’t afford help either and it sucked. Majorly sucked. You let me know how I can help and I am SO in. My father has no health insurance and desperately needs mental health care. I know what you mean and hood for you for writing about it! I’m all in girl, you know I am.

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