Meeting recap - September 2, 2020

Welcome, Introductions, & Discussion
Thank you to the 25 participants joining us on Zoom for today's meeting!  It was wonderful to see both familiar and new faces in attendance.  Today’s discussion about Racism and Perinatal Mental Health Disparities was facilitated by Mercedes Hightower, LCSW-C.  Thank you all for joining us, and many thanks to Mercedes for sharing her time, expertise, and passion with the group!

Readings recommended/ provided in preparation for our discussion:
1)  "SHARP: A Framework for Addressing the Contexts of Poverty and Oppression During Service Provision in the United States."
2)  "Why America's Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis" 
3)  "Black Mothers Get Less Treatment For Postpartum Depression Than Other Moms." 
4)  "Black Women Disproportionately Suffer Complications of Pregnancy and Childbirth. Let’s Talk About It."

Additional recommended resources/ reading:
https://www.blackwomenbirthingjustice.org/battling-over-birth
https://blackmamasmatter.org/


News & Resource Sharing
    -> PMHPSG Future Meeting Dates
*Monday, Nov 16th;   9:00-10:30am  (Proposed Topic:  Perinatal Loss -
Please reach out to Sara if you have relevant resources or contacts to share)
*Dates for 2021 are TBD.  We invite your input for planning our 2021 Meetings!
(Please email Sara directly at [email protected] if interested/ available).

    -> Bayview’s Postpartum Support Group has transitioned to virtual Zoom meetings during the course of the pandemic. This FREE virtual group is offered weekly, on Thursdays from 11am-12pm.  If you would like to refer a postpartum mother, please have them email Sara at [email protected] for details.  The Zoom link is being shared individually for now, with those who have had some direct contact with Bayview’s PMDC staff - via phone, email, etc.

    -> Additional Resources/ Articles:

• CLASP:  The Center for Law and Social Policy - Advancing Racial Equity in Maternal Mental Health Policy
• National Health Law Program - Maternal Mental Health Care is Critical to Reducing Racial Disparities  (2.28.2020)
• PBS News Hour - 9 ways racism impacts maternal health  (5.12.2019)
• Today - 'We're looked at as superhuman': How racism affects the mental health of Black women  (7.20.2020)
• Hartford Courant - Black pregnant women are already at higher risk. The coronavirus pandemic is making it worse.  (5.31.2020)
• "Racial Justice" Listserv Mid-Atlantic Region, Curated by Lynda Davis
• Birth Justice Podcast NYC:  https://www.birthjustice.nyc/ -  [One episode:  Sn 1 Ep 02: A Brief History of American Gynecology with Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens]
• NPR Hidden Brain Podcast - Remembering Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey: The Mothers of Modern Gynecology  (2.7.2017)
• Birthmark Podcast:  Pregnant While Black - by Yvonna Roderick​  “Pregnancy and birth leaves a birthmark on all of us physically, mentally, emotionally and historically. This podcast is an outlet to spark conversations that unpacks the history and current state of black maternal health in the United States. With the intentions to prepare black women to walk into our healthcare system feeling empowered, educated, and heard. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/birthmark/support”

Staying Connected
We are all stronger together -- for ourselves, and for the families we serve.  **To join our resource/ info sharing platform, search Google Groups for “Baltimore Perinatal Mental Health Professional Study Group” and request an invite.  Email Sara with questions: [email protected].


                                                                Thanks for joining us today!
                                                   **Sorry, no CEUs available for today’s meeting**

                          Hope to see you at our next meeting, on Monday, Nov 16th from 9:00-10:30am