October Reflections: A Month of Advocacy and Support

October was defined by action and advocacy. Stepping away from the office and into various communities across Oahu, I was powerfully reminded of the critical need for support surrounding pregnancy, infant loss, and the postpartum journey. My schedule was a meaningful whirlwind of speaking engagements, professional training, and community wellness events. Join me for a reflection on the impactful work we accomplished this month, all focused on creating tangible support and raising awareness for perinatal and reproductive mental health.

🌸 Perinatal and Infant Loss Awareness

October is a time to honor and remember the babies lost and to support the families grieving. I was deeply moved to participate in two separate walks:

• Annual Remembrance Walk at Magic Island: I had the privilege of speaking to the audience about my journey—both personal and professional—and emphasized the importance of mental health resources specifically tailored to those experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. It's vital that grief is met with understanding and professional support.

• Walk to Remember at Tripler Army Medical Center: Having another opportunity to speak here reinforced the message that grief does not discriminate and that communities, including the military community, need dedicated resources to navigate this complex loss.

  

  

  

  

  
  

🧘‍♀️ Building a Village: Wellness Day for Moms

I was honored to participate in a Wellness Day alongside the Postpartum Support International (PSI) board and my colleagues, Jess and Colleen, from Nurture. This collaborative event was a tangible way to give back and provide essential tools for new and expecting mothers:

• Collaboration: Hosted by the PSI board, the event featured contributions from Nurture, including myself, Jess, and Colleen. This collaboration allowed us to bring diverse expertise to the Moms in attendance.

• Focus: Creating a much-needed space for Moms to pause, connect, and receive practical self-care resources.

• Activities: We offered essential resources, relaxing yoga sessions for mind-body connection, nourishing foods, and education.

• Impact: Providing Moms with the first steps and a template to create a customizable postpartum plan is about shifting the focus from being reactive to being prepared. We helped them start building their essential support team before the intensity of the postpartum period hits.

  

  
  
  

🧠 Educating the Educators: Professional Outreach

A crucial part of improving mental health outcomes is ensuring that the professionals supporting families are well-equipped. My presentations focused on bringing the latest insights and tools to diverse groups of providers:

• Hawaii Behavioral Health Convention: This was an opportunity to speak directly to therapists and behavioral health providers on the nuances of perinatal and reproductive mental health. The goal was to deepen their understanding of common challenges (like PMADs) and encourage collaboration across specialties.

• Early Intervention (EI) Staff Training: I met with crucial group of in-home providers including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special education teachers, and social workers. My goal was to equip them to better support the whole family unit. We focused on recognizing and addressing maternal mental health within the EI setting, specifically discussing the ways in which parenting a child with complex needs intersect with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). The training provided strategies on:

  • Noticing: Recognizing the subtle signs of maternal/postpartum mental health challenges in parents facing the additional stress of a child with special needs.

  • Navigating: Understanding how to respectfully and ethically navigate these mental health concerns, while remaining focused on their primary role of supporting the child's development.

  • Resource Provision: Providing tools to connect families with appropriate mental health resources, recognizing that a supported parent is better equipped to support their child.

Reflecting on this diverse series of engagements—from holding space for grieving parents at the walks to equipping dedicated professionals in training sessions—my commitment is stronger than ever. This work, whether focused on support or education, is unified by one mission: ensuring that every family in Hawaii has the mental health resources they need on their reproductive journey. I am deeply grateful to everyone who shared their stories and their time, driving us all forward in this vital work.