Kirstie Alley Battles Sen. Menendez To Block Post-Partum Depression Bill

Politico:

"Fat Actress" actress and Scientologist Kirstie Alley is on a Twittering crusade against a bill that would provide money for screening, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression.

The Mother's Act, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), seems innocuous enough -- but it's become a major target of the church, .which opposes the use of drugs to treat psychiatric ailments.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[Katherine Stone]

The problem is not that there is opposition to the bill. It's a free country and debate is good. The problem is that Kirstie and others like her have made completely false claims about it. Screening for postpartum depression (which is not a bad thing, by the way) is not mandated in the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act (S 324). Nor does the bill identify specific treatments as preferable. It simply will fund more research into these illnesses, how best to identify them and how best to treat them. As someone who went through it myself, it is very painful and devastating. There is no reason in this day and age to allow families to go on suffering for so long. No reason to allow shame and stigma any longer. Nearly one million women get a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder every year and, since no one else seems to care much about funding more research and services, we need our government's help to kick-start the effort. -- Katherine Stone, Postpartum Progress, http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com

[RaisingAwareness]

Let's be honest here. If you cared about new mothers, pregnant women and newborns the last thing you'd do is put them on toxic and dangerous psychiatric drugs. Enough of the lies. Did you not notice the large Black Box warnings on the prescription bottle, or the dozens of International warnings that tell of the harm caused by psychiatric drugs and especially those given to pregnant women and new mothers?

I have family and friends harmed by these drugs so please don't rattle off any garbage about how safe and effective they are. Even the FDA admits now that they increase the risk of suicide, violence and many other horrific things. So why the hell should Big Brother mandate forced screening which will no doubt put more mothers on this crap? Why would you mandate that someone who is feeling depressed to take something that will increase the risk of them wanting to harm themselves or others? How does this make any sense to you? Is Big Pharma paying you that well that you can't see the obvious? Next time you work toward a cause do a little research on it first.

http://www.ssristories.com/index.php

[KISSman]

She's apparently organizing a 'Million Mom March' against this bill. The only good that can come of such a thing is that Kirstie could clearly use a good walk.

[MzTexas]

This woman has never had a child [hers are adopted]. How the HELL can she be a legitimate voice against treatment for PPD?

[Ivy Leung]

My sentiments exactly!

[militantlibrarian]

Hope Kirstie will provide help for the next overwhelmed, temporarily deranged post-partum woman who hurts or kills her child/ren.

[rasputin999]

Why doesn't this blimp keep her big pie hole shut!

[crazyoatie]

What does her size have to do with any of this? This country would be a lot better off if everybody based their arguments on relevant facts.

[Rosy]

Kirstie needs to back off.
PPD is a serious disorder that goes very under-diagnosed in this country.
It is hell for those who suffer from it.
If Scientologists don't want to take antidepressants or any other medications, that is their right. But to attempt to prevent others from getting the diagnosis and help they need (which, by the way, may or may not include antidepressants) is just plain wrong.