118: Climb Out of the Darkness 2018: Raising Awareness of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Healthy Births, Happy Babies

Guests: our panel discussion about Climb Out of the Darkness 2018, an event raising awareness of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, includes: Julie Lopez, Dr. Danny Singley, Shelby Patterson and Jen Varela.

In this episode, we will cover:

1. what the international event, Climb Out of the Darkness, is all about and why raising awareness for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders is so important
2. what the #1 barrier to receiving support and treatment for postpartum depression is and how to overcome it
3. did you know that 1 out of 10 MEN experience postpartum depression and anxiety as well?
4. information about the San Diego local Climbing Out of the Darkness event on June 23, 2018

Resources mentioned in the conversation:

• the Postpartum Support International's (PSI) website for their Climb Out of the Darkness events: http://www.postpartum.net/join-us/climbout/
• info about the Climb Out of the Darkness event in San Diego on June 23, 2018: https://www.facebook.com/climboutsandiego/
• link to the Postpartum Health Alliance's (PHA) Perinatal Depression Screening Test: https://postpartumhealthalliance.org/screening-test/
• link to PSI's Dads for World Maternal Mental Health Day: http://www.postpartum.net/join-us/dads-for-world-maternal-mental-health-day/

About Our Panelists:

Julie Lopez

Julie Lopez is a Partner with Tatro & Lopez, LLP, a civil litigation firm representing clients who've suffered personal injury, elder abuse, and medical malpractice. Julie also advises nonprofit and other business organizations, and handles business litigation and consumer class action matters. As a former social worker, Julie is a compassionate guide and fierce protector of her clients who are often in crisis when they seek her representation.

Julie has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers consecutively for the past three years, a distinction awarded to fewer than 3% of attorneys in the state. She is a postpartum depression survivor, and co-organizes the Climb Out of the Darkness event every year to raise awareness of postpartum mood disorders. She serves on the Board of Directors for disABILITY Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide sports facilities to disabled individuals and their families, and is a committee member of Lawyer's Club's Community Outreach Committee.

After earning a Masters degree in Social Work, Julie earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law, where she was regularly on the Dean's List, served as an editor of California Western Law Review, and published her article on workplace discrimination. Julie is licensed to practice law in both California and Arizona, where she earned the 3rd highest score in the state on the 2009 Arizona Bar exam.

Dr. Daniel Singley

Dr. Singley is a San Diego-based board certified psychologist and Director of The Center for Men’s Excellence. His research and practice focus on men’s mental health with a particular emphasis on reproductive psychology and the transition to fatherhood. He is Past President of the American Psychological Association’s Section on Positive Psychology and currently serves on the Board of the APA’s Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity as well as Postpartum Support International.

He conducts trainings and presentations around the country to assist individuals and organizations to enhance their level of father inclusiveness and founded the grant-funded Basic Training for New Dads, Inc nonprofit in order to give new fathers the tools they need to be highly engaged with their infants as well as their partners.

In his free time, Dr. Singley likes to cook, surf, read, and take his two sons on hikes to get muddy and throw rocks at things.

Shelby Patterson

Shelby Peterson is a dedicated mother, postpartum mentor, community volunteer, and wife of a police officer. Born and raised in Southern California, Shelby resides in San Diego with her husband Jake, and their three children. Shelby enjoys spending time with her family, serving as a wish-granter for the make-a-wish foundation, and utilizing her experience in overcoming postpartum depression to help new moms who are struggling with this condition. Shelby is a graduate of Chapman University where she obtained her B.A. in Psychology. She is currently the reigning Mrs. California United States where she is using her title to advocate for the maternal health community.

Jen Varela

Since 2010, San Diego sleep training expert Jen Varela has helped more than 400 sleep-deprived families with private one-on-one sleep coaching. She focuses on the achievement of each family’s sleep goals whether in co-sleeping environments, room sharing or separate rooms. Jen’s experience ranges from helping families with infants in sleep shaping skills to families with toddlers who are transitioning them to their own room for the first time.

Jen is a mother of two children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Counseling from California State University Fullerton, California. She is a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach® trained by Kim West, The Sleep Lady®. Another passion for Jen is supporting Moms who are struggling with Postpartum Mood Disorders and she is on the board of Postpartum Health Alliance as the President Elect for 2018.