May 9, 2006
For Immediate Release

Contact:  Susan Dowd Stone  (201) 567-5596

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL HOSTS 20TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE HONORING CODEY'S AND MANUEL ALVAREZ, M.D.

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is presenting its 20th annual conference: Perinatal Mental Health: Community Solutions, Interventions and Treatment Options at The Hyatt Regency on-the-Hudson, located in Jersey City, from June 7 - 10th, 2006. For twenty years, PSI has been the international leader in the field of maternal mental health. Their mission is to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every community worldwide. Currently, PSI has coordinators in 48 states and 16 countries, making it the most extensive and comprehensive resource for health care providers, women and their families in the world.

Susan Stone, MSW, LCSW, of Tenafly, president of PSI and conference chair announced that the Codey's will be honored for their work at the conference banquet on Friday, June 9th. Manuel Alvarez, M.D., of Cresskill, chairman of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences of The Donna A. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center and medical correspondent for FOXNews Channel, will also be honored for his contributions in raising awareness of perinatal mood disorders through his advocacy efforts.

Governor Jon S. Corzine recently signed into law a mandate requiring screening for postpartum depression. New Jersey now leads the nation in devoting legislation to this crucial issue. The work of Former Governor and Senate President Richard J. Codey and Former First Lady Mary Jo Codey's "Speak Up When You're Down" campaign helped to pave the way for this historic legislation. The mandate will go into effect in six months and raises the bar for health care providers to include assessments for postpartum depression in routine healthcare screenings for pregnant and postpartum women.

In addition to honorees Mary Jo Codey and Dr. Alvarez, both of whom will also speak during the conference, other participants include Meg Spinelli, MD who will present on Infanticide and the upcoming retrial of Andrea Yates; Shari Lusskin, MD, Vivette Glover, Ph.D; Karen Kleiman, MSW, Mary Ann LoFrumento, MD, Catherine Birndorf, MD and many other renown researchers/educators from the field of women's reproductive physical and mental health.

General sessions will focus on the latest topics that healthcare professionals and group facilitators must know, including latest research findings and therapeutic treatment techniques. Excerpts from the acclaimed original award-winning play "In the Shadow of my Son" by Nadine Bernard will be presented.

The conference is open to healthcare providers and individuals interested in the treatment of postpartum mood disorders. At the conclusion of this conference, registrants will be able to identify community solutions, interventions and treatment options that provide support and resources to women and their families suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Download or view the entire brochure and register online at www.postpartum.net or call 201-567-5596 to request a brochure and further information. Conference registration fee includes attendance at the Friday, June 9th banquet and silent auction where the honorees will be presented with their awards. The conference grants participants CEU's and CME's and is sponsored by The Hudson Perinatal Consortium and LibertyHealth of Jersey City Medical Center.

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