New Jersey Catholic Conference

149 North Warren Street · Trenton, New Jersey 08608

(609) 989-1120 · Fax (609) 989-1152

E-mail:  info@njcathconf.com

Web:  www.njcathconf.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Patrick R. Brannigan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Executive Director

           

 

About Speak Up When You Are Down[1]

 

 

What Is The Catholic Church Doing Through This Program?

 

The Catholic Dioceses of New Jersey – Newark, Camden, Metuchen, Paterson and Trenton – will be participating with the Maternal and Child Consortia statewide in an effort to train Catholic priests, deacons, religious and lay professionals in the 684 Catholic parishes in the state about the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood disorders, particularly postpartum depression, an illness with affects between 10-15% of all new mothers, and possibly up to 24% of new mothers in inner cities.

 

This is the first such effort in the state by any faith group.

 

The training that Catholic Church clergy and staff will receive in each “Speak Up When You Are Down” session includes, in addition to awareness of the warning signs and symptoms of the illness, information about the risks factors that can contribute to a woman developing this illness.   Sessions will also provide a process by which participants may begin discussions with a woman leading toward her seeking a complete assessment and treatment.

 

 

Why Is This Important?

 

One of the core ministries of any Catholic parish is ministry to families.

 

Women are more likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and following childbirth than at any other time in their lives.  Postpartum depression occurs in as many as one in eight new mothers who have had a baby, miscarriage, or stillbirth.   In New Jersey, postpartum depression affects between 11,000 and 16,000 women each year.

Through early identification, diagnosis and intervention at the onset of symptoms of postpartum depression it can be properly treated.

 

Frequently, the priest, deacon or lay professional in a parish is the first person to whom a family or individual will turn in times of trouble.  Both the new mother and her spouse can be confused and frustrated about the mother’s inability to take joy in their infant.  Too often, they are not equipped to recognize this condition or even know to whom they can turn for assistance.  With the training received through “Speak Up When you Are Down,” the parish can be an invaluable first source for assistance at such a critical time.