Parental Mental Wellness Program

Raising money for a great cause through my Mongol Derby Race. My goal is $50/km x 1000km = $50,000! Your dollars will go twice as far through the promise of a 1: 1 match by a generous donor! 

Let's talk about mental health. I have two little girls and struggled with post-partum depression with each pregnancy.   I was faced with the prospect of not knowing where to go, cold calling therapists, paying for sessions not covered by my insurance, and scheduling counseling sessions while working & having a newborn. The first time around I gave up.  Discouraged and too exhausted by what seemed to be a part-time job of getting help I stopped trying to get professional help and went it alone. 

Getting help shouldn’t be that difficult for anyone.

St. Johns Health has now launched the Parental Mental Wellness Program! What does this look like? St. John’s staff has gone through Postpartum Support International’s training and is prepared to help parents in need. Here is the overview of the program:

Step 1: Information on postpartum depression & anxiety will be covered by the RNs & MD’s at discharge from giving birth at the hospital. This will include parent’s receiving a comprehensive list of providers (and their contact info) in Jackson Hole and tele-health providers specializing in Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. This also includes the number to a St Johns staff member ready to pair patients with providers within 24 hours.

Step 2: OB lactation consultants will follow up by phone on EVERY patient at weeks 2 & 4 to discuss symptoms and evaluate need for resources.  If anyone shows any signs or expresses interest in more resources a referral will be made to the Behavioral Health team at St. John’s Health and a notice to their OBGYN. The parent will be contacted within 24 hours by a provider that can offer support.

The OB team will let the OBGYN know that a referral for therapy has occurred, so the OBGYN can support and encourage this route as well.  The patient will receive a call from their OBGYN’s office to be evaluated and follow up with possible medication recommendations.

St. Johns will bill insurance for the first 5 visits. YOUR FUNDS will help cover ongoing costs of visits, or patients whose health insurance does not cover mental health visits. Funds will also cover training for new nurses, lactation consultants, and providers  

I appreciate immensely your kindness and support and am excited to see a safety net for women growing in our community.