Meeting Recap -- June 6, 2016

Welcome & Introductions
The June 6th meeting welcomed 12 participants.  Thanks to those who were able to attend!

Resource Sharing

• Please remember that you can join and use the PMHPSG Google Group to share information, announce events, or inquire within the group about particular resources (local providers, online tools, MMH educational opportunities,etc).  If you haven’t signed up, search/ browse Google Groups for “Baltimore Perinatal Mental Health Professional Study Group” and ask to join.  If you encounter difficulty, email Sara at [email protected].
• JHH Mothers and Babies course.  A new psychotherapy group for pregnant and postpartum moms, to learn skills for coping with stress, managing mood, and enjoying baby.  Tuesdays, 5:15-6:30pm.  6 sessions, beginning July 2016 (final date TBD).  For more information, call Jessica Toomer at 410.502.7449.
• PPD Act App. Study/ partnership with UNC, PPP, +  iTunes.  Participate by downloading the app.  2-parts include: app-based questionnaire, then ‘spit kit’ in some cases.

Baltimore PMH Resource Guide Update    

• A DRAFT of the Resource Guide’s Provider Application Form has been created in Google Forms; providers wishing to be in the Guide will have to complete the form to request consideration.  Please feel free to view this draft of the Application Form and provide any feedback on the draft in our Google Group.  http://goo.gl/forms/P19nsKVlJq.  Once the form is ‘live,’ provider names/ profiles can be assigned to volunteers (that could be YOU), for ‘vetting’ by phone.  This is indeed a process!

Maryland Task Force to Study Maternal Mental Health

• http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/26excom/html/23maternal.html
• Next meeting coming up on Tuesday, September 13th from 1-3pm  
  *These meetings are open to the public!*

          Spring Grove Hospital Center, in the basement of The Dix Bldg
          55 Wade Avenue   Catonsville, MD  21228

Climb Out of the Darkness Fundraiser - Team Baltimore

• On June 18th, 2016 - Postpartum Progress held it’s 4th annual “Climb Out of the Darkness” event, to raise awareness about perinatal mental health, and to raise funds for the organization’s operations, free educational materials, training peer-support leaders, and so much more.  The total amount raised through the event was $350,000!
• Baltimore’s Climb took place at Druid Hill Park and was a great success.  65+ people attended the event. 
  The Baltimore team raised approximately $23,000!        **WAY TO GO CLIMBERS!**
• Sinai’s Perinatal Depression & Anxiety Outreach Program is the lucky recipient of a 2016 Climb-related grant, and receives a percentage of the amount raised by Team Baltimore.  Yay!

Case Discussions
June’s clinical discussion touched upon:   Connecting mothers with community resources such as postpartum home visiting services and Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore’s Info & Crisis Referral Line; How postpartum doulas can assist and advocate for mothers they serve who are struggling; and working with severe cases of perinatal mental illness.

**Please consider sharing at a future meeting about difficult/ interesting PMH cases you have worked with,
and/or general discussion topics relevant to your work with mothers.  If you are interested in presenting
info on a particular topic and/or leading a discussion, please let Sara know.  Thanks!


                 **Next Study Group Meeting:  Thursday, September 15th 8:30-10:00AM**
Clinical discussion will be led by Dr. Lauren Osborne, 
Assistant Director of Johns Hopkins Women’s Mood Disorders Center