SAMPLE MESSAGE
SUBJECT: Take action to address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Dear ______________________,
I am asking you to take action to address perinatal mood and anxiety disorders by mandating training and funding for a coordinated system of treatment and care. The case of Liliana Carrillo illustrates the desperate need for Los Angeles County to invest in perinatal mental health training and a coordinated system of care. I stand with Maternal Mental Health NOW in calling on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to pass a motion mandating that employees at all county agencies and departments receive comprehensive training on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and fund appropriate, high-quality, easily accessible and culturally appropriate care, so that tragedies such as this one do not happen again.
Training should not be limited to mental health professionals only, as most affected individuals do not seek immediate care. They often, however, have numerous interactions with other county agencies, and there should be no restrictions on which county employees learn to detect and appropriately respond to perinatal mental health concerns. Almost all county agencies have some contact with young families, and there should be no restrictions on which county employees learn to detect and appropriately respond to perinatal mental health concerns.
According to the Los Angeles Times report, the Carrillo family’s numerous interactions with Los Angeles County departments and agencies provided an opportunity to offer the mother help, treatment, and hope. Catastrophically, each and every opportunity was missed. The Board of Supervisors should mandate in-depth training on perinatal mental health disorders for all agencies and employees of the county and provide resources to make robust perinatal mental health care realizable.
I strongly urge you to consider this request. We owe this to our county’s mothers, birthing people and families.
Sincerely,
Name
Title (if applicable)
Organization (if applicable)
Identify and Contact Your County Supervisor
First District: Supervisor Hilda Solis
Includes: Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Claremont, Commerce, Cudahy, El Monte, Huntington Park, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Los Angeles (portion), Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rosemead, South El Monte, South Gate, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Second District: Supervisor Holly Mitchell
Includes: Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Los Angeles (portion), Lynwood
Email: [email protected].
Phone: 213-974-2222
Third District: Supervisor Sheila Khuel
Includes: Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Los Angeles (portion), Malibu, San Fernando, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Westlake Village
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 974-3333
Fourth District: Supervisor Janice Hahn
Includes: San Clemente Island, Santa Catalina Island, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills, Lomita, Harbor City, San Pedro, Los Angeles (portion) Wilmington, Signal Hill, Long Beach, LAkewood, Bellflower, Downey, Paramount, Norwalk, Artesia, Cerritos, Whittier, La Mirada, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights, Rowland Heights, Diamond Bar
Email: [email protected].
Phone: (213) 974-4444
Fifth District: Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Includes: Alhambra, Arcadia, Bradbury, Burbank, Covina, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Canada-Flintridge, La Verne, Lancaster, Monrovia, Palmdale, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Los Angeles City, Canoga Park (portion), Chatsworth (portion), Chatworth Village, Granada Hills (portion), Hansen Dam (portion), Lake View Terrace (portion), Mission Hills (portion), Northridge (portion), Olive View Hospital (in Sylmar), Porter Ranch, Shadow Hills, Sun Valley (portion), Sunland, Sylmar (portion), Tujunga, West Hills (portion)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 974-5555