Working on Legislation to Treat and Prevent Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum Psychosis Disorder
While only 1 - 2 mothers in 1,000 may experience postpartum psychosis, the consequences may be deadly for the child and for the mother. Postpartum Psychosis Disorder (PPD) has the potential for leading to infanticide (killing of infants), as in the case of Andrea Yates, or to suicide of the mother, as in the case of Melanie Blocker-Stokes. Treating and preventing postpartum psychosis can help in preventing unnecessary postpartum deaths.About Melanie Blocker-Stokes
In 2001 Melanie Blocker-Stokes jumped to her death from a 12th story window less than six after the birth of her daughter.
Carol Blocker, Melanie Blocker Stokes' mother shares her insights about the disorder that took her daughter's life:
- "I did not have to lose my beautiful daughter Melanie to postpartum psychosis...Mothers are committing suicide in very violent means, uncharacteristic of women. My daughter who was easy going and mild mannered jumped to her death. These women appear to run to their deaths. They can hardly wait to die. This is what is so frightening about postpartum psychosis and postpartum depression. Women have jumped in front of trains, some have hung themselves, stabbed themselves or lit themselves on fire. We must have standardized treatment plans so postpartum psychosis is no longer a deadly mental illness."
The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act
To this end, legislation has been introduced first in 2003 and again in 2005, in Melanie's name in the House and the Senate:
More Specifics on The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act
H.R. 1940, the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, would have required the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), to expand and intensify NIMH research and related activities with respect to postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
In addition, the bill would have also required NIMH to coordinate its activities with other NIH components that have responsibilities related to postpartum conditions. In addition, NIMH would have been required to conduct and support basic and clinical research, epidemiological studies, diagnostic techniques, and information and education programs to expand the understanding of the causes of and efforts to find a cure for postpartum conditions.
Status of The Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act
H.R. 1940 was introduced by Representative Rush on April 27, 2005, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 109th Congress.
Preventing Postpartum Psychosis with Screening and Treatment
Postpartum treatment advocates, such as Postpartum Support International , Carol Blocker and Attorney's Sandy Liu and Susan Strelitz believe that with appropriate screening and treatment these types of tragedies can and will be prevented.Attorneys Sandy Liu (Author of Postpartum Psychosis: A Legitimate Defense for Negating Criminal Responsibility) and Susan Strelitz, maintain that society can prevent infanticides by observing the underlying pattern evident in almost all infanticide cases, namely the combination of a mother's vulnerable mental health status and her lack of social support.
- If society is to have any hope of preventing deaths of children at the hands of their mothers, we must change our tendency to blame only the mothers, and identify ways we can effectively treat and prevent postpartum psychosis.
The first page looks at how the PostPartum Defense was used to find Andrea Yates not guilty of murdering her 5 children.
The last page looks at how to recognize the baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
