Neighbor News
Local Moms Climb to Support Perinatal Mental Health
Four local moms came together to plan a Hillsborough County event for moms and families who experienced perinatal mental health conditions.
The Climb Out of the Darkness Team Tampa Bay hosted their second annual event on Saturday, October 7th to raise awareness for families about perinatal mental health. The event was planned by four local moms who are passionate about helping families connect to perinatal mental health resources.
Joy Clark of Wesley Chapel served as Team Captain. The team was co-led by Robyn Neidhardt of Wesley Chapel, Allison Nguyen of Brandon and Elizabeth Good of Riverview. About the event, Clark said, "I'm just so proud of our team and community for the dedication they've brought to Climb Out of the Darkness."
The event also served as a fundraiser for Postpartum Support International (PSI), a US-based nonprofit organization providing services to women and families experiencing perinatal mental health conditions. These conditions impact about 1 in 7 moms, and can occur during pregnancy or in the postpartum period (up to a year after delivery), and include a range of conditions: anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and psychosis. Dads can be affected by these conditions as well.
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On seeking perinatal mental health support, Nguyen said, "We want moms to know they are not alone, they are not to blame, and with help and support they will be well again. PSI provides many resources to help connect moms and families around the country with support."
The event took place at the Children's Board in Ybor City and drew families from across Hillsborough County. The event included a workout from Fit4Mom and a cake walk with cupcakes donated by The Mad Batter Bakeshop and Wright's Gourmet House. Raffle prizes were donated by Nothing Bundt Cakes, Zoo Tampa, the Tampa Bay Rays and Fit4Mom.
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In addition to the event, Nguyen was successful in securing a Proclamation from Mayor Jane Castor declaring October 7-8 as Climb Out of the Darkness weekend. For Sunday October 8, Neidhardt was successful in having the Sunshine Skyway Bridge lit up in blue and yellow, official Climb colors, to commemorate the Climb Out of the Darkness event. These efforts helped to draft further attention to perinatal mental health conditions.
To connect with the team, visit https://www.facebook.com/ClimbOutTeamTampaBay/. To learn more about Postpartum Support International and the free resources offered, visit https://www.postpartum.net/.