Advocating for Women with Postpartum Mental Illness A Guide to Changing the Law and the National Climate

Preface

Prologue

Introduction

Disclaimer

PART I: UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING WOMEN WITH POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

1 Maternal Mental Illness Is a Serious Risk to Families

2 Silence and Stigma: A Deadly Combination for Postpartum Psychosis

3 Legal Implications of Postpartum Illness in the Criminal Justice System

4 Laws of Neonaticide and Infanticide in Countries outside the US

PART II: ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN WITH POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

5 The Road to Public Act 100-0574: Illinois's New Ground-Breaking Postpartum Law

6 A Tale of Two Women

7 Recognition of Postpartum Mental Illness within the Medical and Legal Community

8 The Origins of the Case against Recognition of Postpartum Mental Illness

9 The Steps for Professionals to Advocate and Enact Legal Change

10 How to Partner with Like-Minded Advocates and Influential Organizations

11 Networking and Support for Postpartum Psychosis: Help from Our Friends

12 Working with Local Issues and State and Federal Laws for Change

13 Expert Witness Training and Educating Attorneys and Judges

14 Maternal and Infant Mortality Linked to Postpartum Illness

Epilogue: Legal Advocacy and Changing Postpartum Laws

Appendixes

Index

About the Authors