Postpartum Depression
The Hutchie James Mission
Our family wouldn’t be where it is today without the medical and familial support we received through Jamie’s battle with postpartum depression. Though Jamie bore the brunt of the mental and physical effects of this illness, it impacted our whole family. Ever since we conquered it together, we’ve been searching for ways to help other families on a larger scale. Now with the platform of Hutchie James & Co. and our partnership with Maternal Mental Health NOW, we hope to make that help a reality.
What We Want To Do:
- Share stories. Stories are powerful for a reason - they pull us in, create an emotional connection, and make us feel less alone in our thoughts and feelings. The latter is such an important aspect of surviving mental illness. Follow Hutchie James & Co. on Instagram and Facebook for true stories of maternal mental health heroes.
- Share resources. See a current list of maternal mental health resources at the bottom of this page. We’ll keep adding to this list as often as possible. Never hesitate to seek help - it’s actually the biggest show of strength you can make.
- Contribute to the mission of Maternal Mental Health NOW. Our partnership is in its infancy, and we’re currently collaborating on the best way to support their efforts, including donations from Hutchie James & Co. sales. You’ll be the first to know when the specifics are worked out.
About Maternal Mental Health NOW
Maternal Mental Health NOW grew out of one woman’s ordeal. After the birth of her daughter, Kimberly Wong, Esq. suffered from such severe postpartum depression that she wanted to end her life. Despite good healthcare and strong familial and social support, she struggled to find informed help. Kimberly formed a group in 2007 that would become Maternal Mental Health NOW (MMH-NOW), a project of 501(c)(3) Community Partners.
MMH-NOW bases their work in their home county of L.A., but it is the goal of Hutchie James & Co. to extend their mission, impact, and resources nationally.
Their Mission:
- To remove barriers to the prevention, screening and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression
Their Beliefs:
- The mental and emotional experience of welcoming a baby into the family impacts the entire family unit.
- Addressing mental health during the perinatal (pre-conception to one year postpartum) period is as important as screening for gestational diabetes, and a parent’s emotional well-being can have as much of an impact on the infant’s life as the nutrition that the baby receives in the womb.
Their Efforts:
- They work with healthcare providers, health systems, and state and local government to make the prevention, screening, and treatment of perinatal anxiety and depression part of the standard of prenatal and postpartum care for every new parent in L.A. County, regardless of their circumstances.
- They center their efforts on historically oppressed, marginalized, and under-resourced parents, as they regularly experience the most significant challenges to receiving timely, informed, and culturally-appropriate care.
- Learn more about their values and systems-change model here.
Resources via Maternal Mental Health NOW
- My Care App - A resource for helping those who want to become pregnant, are pregnant, or who just welcomed a baby, understand and manage perinatal depression and anxiety.
- Survivor Stories - Sharing one’s story in an effort to let others know they are not alone can be one of the most courageous acts. Many of MMH NOW’s storytellers share that it’s an important part of their healing journey too.
- Speak Up When You’re Down: 6 Things Every Mom and Mom-To-Be Should Know About Perinatal Depression - Download MMH NOW’s free brochure with valuable information on perinatal depression. Available in English, Spanish, Armenian, Tagalog, Korean, Farsi, Chinese and Vietnamese.