FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — The second annual Maternal Mental Health Conference was held Wednesday at Saint Francis University.
Wednesday was also World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day. The conference was sponsored by Mission: Motherhood in collaboration with the Saint Francis University Center for Integrative Public Health Education and Research.
Mission: Motherhood is an organization that aims to change the conversation around perinatal mental health. The charity says 20% of women suffer from perinatal mood anxiety disorder (PMAD), a distressing feeling that occurs throughout the first year after giving birth.
Mission: Motherhood wants to draw attention to the lack of services specific to perinatal mental health in Northeast Indiana, on top of the already significant stigma surrounding mothers and mental health.
“There’s a lot of stigma in society surrounding mothers seeking help,” says Jennifer Norris-Hale, founder of Mission: Motherhood. “There is also a stigma against women with substance use disorders. We want to educate the community, provide a space for mothers to seek help, and let them know they are not alone.”
Norris-Hale first opened up about her struggle with postpartum depression about five years ago. Now she is happy to be in her position where she can help others based on her own experiences.
This year’s attendance was almost double that of 2023.
