I am proud to say that I called the Georgia Senators today to urge their support of the Mother’s Act, bill s 1375. I will paste what I wrote up to say to them (which ended up being a guideline and was not read word for word once I got on the phone)
I will say that Sen. Chambliss’ office actually listened to what I had to say and seemed more open to my story. Sen. Isakson’s office didn’t even let me get past barely mentioning the bill before they thanked me for the call and hung up. Guess I’ll have to email him.
Here’s the “script” I used:
Hello this is Lauren Hale, one of the Senator’s constituents from GA. I am calling to ask the Senator to co-sponsor The MOTHERS Act bill number S. 1375, sponsored by Senator Menendez, which will provide funding for research, education, screening and treatment of postpartum depression. 800,000 new US mothers will be diagnosed with a Postpartum Disorder this year yet only 120,000 of them will receive treatment leaving 680,000 new moms suffering without the support of the medical community. This is a gap we cannot afford to ignore any longer. If you have a moment, I’d like to share with you my reason for urging the Senator’s support of this important bill.I believe in this bill as a result of two personal experiences with a Postpartum Depression Disorder. One episode was treated and included hospitalization; one went untreated due to the lack of knowledge on the part of my physician and I, an occurrence this bill will prevent for other women. I have since founded my own peer support organization for women with PPD, volunteer with Postpartum Support International, and also moderate online support for women and families suffering from Postpartum Depression. I am also blogging my third and unexpected pregnancy so that others facing pregnancy after PPD will not have to go it alone. It is of the utmost importance that women with Postpartum Depression Disorders receive timely and proper treatment for their illness and the passage of the MOTHERS Act is imperative in order for this to become a reality. Please do not let the Senator’s constituents or mothers across the nation continue to suffer alone and in silence. Give them a voice as well as a strong, reliable and hopeful path towards the recovery they so desperately seek.