About the Maternal Suicide Awareness Campaign
2020 Mom launched the Maternal Suicide Awareness Campaign in 2018 during National Suicide Awareness week, to remember moms lost to maternal suicide and to raise awareness about maternal suicide, a leading cause of maternal mortality. For years there were misconceptions about pregnancy and the postpartum period being protective against depression and suicide. We know now that this simply isn’t true and it’s time to raise awareness about maternal depression and psychosis, leading causes of maternal suicide.
Learn more about the moms who have lost their lives to maternal suicide here.
Maternal Suicide Awareness Week Campaign 2021
There were two parts to the campaign:
#KnowMomFacts Social Media Awareness Campaign
September 6-10, 2021 – 2020 Mom shared Maternal Suicide Awareness facts and resources on social media: Facebook: @2020mom, Twitter: @2020MomProject, Instagram @2020_Mom, and LinkedIn @2020Mom#MomsAreNotImmune Remembrance Virtual Candlelight Vigil
During the evening on Friday, September 10, 2021 on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. While watching we encouraged viewers to read the names of the mothers lost on our Remembrance Wall.
Our 4th annual Maternal Suicide Awareness Campaign was seen by over 1 million people on social media. We shared messaging that shed light on risks and facts about maternal depression and psychosis, leading causes of maternal suicide, in an effort to raise awareness and combat the stigma and shame of Maternal Mental Health disorders.
Thank you to all who participated in the 2020 campaign.
Partners
The Remembrance Vigil
View the live recording above.
We encouraged everyone to share with their social network and participate in the Remembrance Vigil on Friday, September 10, 2021, by posting a picture of them lighting a candle during the evening using the hashtags: #MaternalSuicideAwareness | #MomsAreNotImmune | #NationalSuicidePreventionWeek.
Dr. Kara Zivin (a researcher and mom with lived experience) & Suzanne Nelson (a new mom who lost her twin sister to postpartum psychosis), hosts of the 2021 vigil, to light a candle to honor of all the mothers lost to maternal suicide and honored on the Remembrance Wall.
We also shared citations for the campaign messaging from our Maternal Suicide Fact Sheet.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5-11, 2021) is an annual campaign hosted by the American Association of Suicidology in the United States to inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide. Learn more here.
Maternal Suicide Webinar
Maternal Suicide in the U.S., The Latest Research & Data Collection Efforts
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Despite common misconceptions, pregnancy and the postpartum period do not protect against the risk of psychiatric disorders or suicide. It has become increasingly urgent and important to normalize the discussion of maternal suicide to raise awareness and double-down on maternal suicide tracking and prevention efforts. In this webinar, we will cover:
A general overview of maternal suicide research and data collection in the U.S.
The difference between suicide risk and suicidal ideation, including racial disparities
Maternal suicide risk factors
Efforts to Standardize Review by Maternal Mortality Review Committees
PRESENTERS:
Sidra Goldman-Mellor, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Lead Investigator, Maternal drug-related death and suicide are leading causes of post-partum death in California
Associate Professor of Public Health
School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts
Director, HSRI Biostatistics and Data Support
University of California, Merced
Marcela Smid, MD MA MS
Lead Investigator: Pregnancy-Associated Death in Utah: Contribution of Drug-Induced Deaths
Assistant Professor, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Utah
Medical Director of SUPeRAD (Substance Use and Pregnancy - Recovery, Addiction, Dependence) Clinic
Kara Zivin, PhD, MS, MA, MFA
Researcher and Peer with Lived Maternal Mental Health Experience
Lead Investigator, Trends in Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm Among Privately Insured Delivering Women
Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Management and Policy/Public Health
University of Michigan
Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center
Institute for Social Research
Research Career Scientist, Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR),
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
About World Suicide Prevention Day:
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on September 10th every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to host World Suicide Prevention Day.