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Military Families & Postpartum Depression

Military Families & Postpartum Depression. Higher Risk for PPD?. Women Veterans: returning from, or facing the potential for, deployment Women now represent 15% of the military forces on active duty, with a majority being of childbearing age. 1

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Military Families & Postpartum Depression

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  1. Military Families & Postpartum Depression

  2. Higher Risk for PPD? • Women Veterans: returning from, or facing the potential for, deployment • Women now represent 15% of the military forces on active duty, with a majority being of childbearing age. 1 • The female combat-exposed soldier is a relatively new phenomenon • Many female soldiers are returning from combat and transitioning into the private and community health care systems • Postpartum depression may be more prevalent among these women • May have comorbid combat related PTSD 1 Rychnovsky, Jacqueline, and Cheryl T. Beck. "Screening for Postpartum Depression in Military Women." Military Medicine Nov. 2006: 1100-104.

  3. Higher Risk for PPD? • Partners of: soldiersfacing initial or repeat deployment-especially to a combat zone • Pregnant women with deployed partners have 2.8 times as much risk of developing postpartum depression as other pregnant women 2 • The current rhythm of repeated and extended deployments lends itself to this increased risk 2 Robrecht, Daniel T., and Jeffery Millegan. "Spousal Military Deployment as a Risk Factor for Postpartum Depression." Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Inc. Nov. 2003: 860-64.

  4. Healthcare Providers • For the private and community sectors to better serve our nation’s female veterans and the partners of deployed soldiers, providers need to: • Regularly obtain information from women about: • Their military service and veteran status in order to facilitate follow-up questioning regarding possible military-related traumatic experiences. • Their partner’s military service and current status of deployment possibility • Screen for deployment risk factors during pregnancy • Acquire a greater familiarity with military culture • Utilize Veterans Affairs and Dept of Defense resources

  5. Resources for Military Families and Providers • Local resources • Veterans Affairs Medical Center • Erie Vet Center • Recognizing that military mothers – whether military spouses or active duty – face a higher risk of postpartum depression, several organizations have support services tailored specifically for military families • Volunteer Doula Services • Free Mental Health Services • Web Based Resources • Discussion Threads • Reference and Research Articles • Patient Education

  6. Local resources – • Erie VA Medical Center • Nadean Sitter, RN, BSN, MEd • Women Veterans Program Manager • 814-860-2907 • Erie Vet Center #222 • Saundra Fulgham, LSW • Family Therapist • 814-453-7955

  7. Volunteer Doula Services • Military moms are at a higher risk for experiencing PPD. Doulas provide support during the delivery and also during the first weeks after birth. • http://www.operationspecialdelivery.com/ • Operation Special Delivery (or OSD), provides trained volunteer doulas for pregnant women whose husbands or partners have been severely injured or who have lost their lives due to the current war on terror, or who will be deployed at the time that they are due to give birth.

  8. Free Mental Health Services • Give An Hourprovides free mental health services to military members and their families affected by the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. (2 Erie based providers) • http://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx

  9. Web Resource • PPD Online Support Page offers a special section just for military mothers who are seeking social support online. This area of the forum also contains resources available to military mothers and their families. • Postpartum Support International has compiled research regarding military women and postpartum depression..

  10. Web Resource • Postpartum Support International-PSI Support for Military Families • http://postpartum.net/resources/women-mothers/psi-support-for-military-families • Army & AirforceKellie HaworthTelephone: 252-917-4835k3osborn@hotmail.com • ArmyCeola ButlerTelephone: 404-246-4994ceolag@yahoo.com • Navy, Marines, Coast GuardVal RoseberryTelephone: 360-679-7281val@roseberry.net

  11. Web Resource • There is also a website for military personnel and their families called Military One Source. This website contains information on parenting, substance abuse, and childcare services. It also has a 24/7 800 number that offers counseling. http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx24/7 Help Center Call Now: 1-800-342-9647

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