Meet Kimberly Grooms, Ms. American Elegance Woman US 2012 and her platform

Hello I am Kimberly Grooms, Ms American Elegance Woman US 2012

My Platform is Postpartum Depression Awareness, helping men and women identify it’s signs and symptoms. Also, I am campaigning to have the month of May established as national Postpartum Depression Awareness Month.
Every year, more than 400,000 infants are born to mothers who are depressed, which makes perinatal depression the most under diagnosed obstetric complications in the United States.
I am currently writing a letter which recognizes the importance of Postpartum Depression (PPD) awareness. I am submitting this letter to my local Senator and Congressman to encourage them to make changes to existing laws regarding PPD. I want to establish a national policy similar to England’s laws, which has established standard guidelines when dealing with mothers and fathers affected by PPD. In addition, I am proposing training, education and PPD awareness measures to be put in place to raise the nation’s awareness, when it comes to this devastating illness. Hopefully my recommendations will begin breaking centuries of mental health stigma allowing individuals to feel informed and empowered when seeking help. Also, I am proposing set mandatory and voluntary procedures in the treatment of mothers and fathers with PPD. One of the highlights in my letter will focus on hospitals, mandating them to provide educational programs to help women, men and supportive family members identify signs of PPD before leaving the hospital. I am hoping these changes will empower individuals to seek additional help when, symptoms of PPD are recognized from the educational sessions taught in hospitals. In addition, referrals, resources and follow-up guidelines connecting individuals to services will be required and the process understood by all healthcare providers.

I would organize different activities and events in order to bring attention to Postpartum Depression in women and men, such as….

• Walk, Bike and Skate-a-Thon
• Host a web site with interactive stories and resources
• PPD continuing education for healthcare providers and support staff at hospital and at well child clinics.
• Host fund raising, government/private
• Host dinners, cocktail parties and concerts
• Announce colors for PPD, blue fade to white
• Educational material, pamphlets, videos and bill boards
• Attend Washington and local government events
• Media Campaigns: Television, radio, talk shows, news papers and magazines
• Facebook and Twitter accounts
• Host a live 24-7 help chat line for hot and warm questions
• T-Shirts, logos, support ribbons and picture of depression
• Create a slogan
• Confirm May as National Postpartum Awareness month
• Host national Postpartum Depression conferences
• Candle light vigils
• Broadcast a Blue alert similar to an Amber alert nationally every time a child is killed by a mother or father due to Postpartum Depression.

Although mentally ill parents pose grave risks to children and are sometimes severely punished despite their afflictions, the majority of those who kill infants and small children are sane by the standards of the most liberal jurisdictions in the United States. However, had my proposed laws and policies been in place at the time when recent highly publicized cases involving PPD occurred, the mother or father involved might have been mandated to receive extensive psychological help before the incident occurred.