WASHINGTON D.C.  (May 10, 2005)—As part of its first annual National PPD Screening Day on May 11th, Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill) announced today his support of the Family Mental Health Foundation’s postpartum depression efforts, which urges all pregnant women and new mothers to TAKE THE TEST NOW— a campaign which direct women to go online (www.ppdhope.com) and take a simple, anonymous test for postpartum depression (PPD). The test will quickly tell the women whether they may be among the hundreds of thousands of untreated PPD sufferers and how they can get more information and help.

 Women without access to the Internet will be urged to call the foundation’s toll-free hotline—1-877-PPD-HOPE (773-4673).

 Co-chairs for the event will be Mrs. Carolyn Rush and Mrs. Loretta Durbin, spouses of Congressman Rush and Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill), who are the House and Senate lead sponsors of the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, a bill that would provide research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.

 “I am pleased with the Family Mental Health’s aggressive outreach approach to helping mothers and families recognize the signs of postpartum depression,” said Rush. “Incorporating mental health screenings during and after pregnancy is key to better understanding and addressing signs of postpartum depression before it’s too late.”

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 Rush Lends Support for National Postpartum Depression Day/page 2

 During National PPD Screening Day, the foundation hopes to raise awareness about PPD. It will also appeal to doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals to begin routine depression screening of pregnant women and new mothers so that all sufferers receive prompt and effective treatment.

 “Postpartum depression is the most common serious complication of pregnancy,” says Dr. Ralph Wittenberg, president of the Washington, D.C.-based foundation and recognized PPD expert. “At least 400,000 women in the U.S. are devastated by the illness every year. Yet, it goes mostly undiagnosed and untreated and, if left untreated, the consequences can be severe for the mothers and their babies.”

 Congressman Rush’s support of National PPD Screening Day is just the latest step of many to come in his attempt to ensure his bill is passed in the current session on behalf of women and families in this nation. As daily reports of postpartum depression sufferers continue to rise, Rush is on a crusade to help save families and remove the stigma of mental illness. First introduced in 2001, Rep. Rush held a press conference May 5 in Washington, D.C. in support of reintroduction of his bill with First Lady Mary Jo Codey, wife of New Jersey Acting Governor, Richard Codey, postpartum depression survivors and other health professionals.

 The foundation’s principal goal is to make PPD screening a standard of care for all pregnant women. In addition to the toll-free hotline, the 16-year-old foundation maintains the online PPD HOPE Information Center (www.ppdhope.com), which is the permanent home of the depression screening test, and educates health-care professionals.

 For more information about Congressman Rush, please visit www.house.gov/rush.

 About the Family Mental Health Foundation

 Founded in 1989, the Family Mental Health Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Washington, D.C. It is dedicated to helping the estimated 400,000 women in the U.S. who suffer from major depression each year before or after giving birth. It does this by increasing public awareness of postpartum depression (PPD), helping affected women, implementing depression-screening programs and conducting professional education and research. The foundation wants every woman to know that PPD is a serious threat to them and their families. Its ultimate goal is to make universal depression screening a national standard of care. The foundation outreach programs include a hotline—877-PPD-HOPE (773-4673)—and a web site, the PPD Hope Resource Center (www.ppdhope.com).

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