We do not offer crisis management services. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. For additional safety information, call the toll-free Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Get Involved
Want to make a difference? Donate or become a member today.
PSI-GA relies on members and contributions from the community to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of maternal mental health issues related to childbearing in Georgia.
Your donations help to:
- Promote awareness of maternal mental health in GA
- Increase training and education of local professionals
- Provide direct support to local moms and families
Click here to make a donation directly to the PSI-GA Chapter.
You may also wish to join PSI for full membership benefits. Contact us if you have any questions about membership. All memberships are tax-deductible.
Volunteer
Every year, PSI hosts Climb Out Of The Darkness, a movement that invites people from all over the world to host local walks and events to spread awareness of mental health challenges of new families. Climb events can be 5 or 500 people, they can be a short walk in your local park, a literal climb up a local mountain, or an event featuring lots of activities for children and families. Climb leaders are not required to fundraise and will receive comprehensive support from PSI-GA to lead their team. We will provide a thorough Climb Leader training, materials, and a gift card for each event.
Funds raised from Climb Out of the Darkness® events will be used to fund PSI-GA’s mission to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in the state of Georgia.
How you can be a part of helping moms in Georgia:
- Join a climb near you
- Volunteer for the event
- Donate to a climb
- Ask a local business to support the climb (download our sponsorship packet)
For Professionals
Get Trained in Maternal Mental Health
Here in Georgia, we are lucky to have a growing network of dedicated and trained professionals in the field of maternal mental health. But there is a great need and opportunity to bring more experts on board. If you are a therapist, OB/GYN, pediatrician, midwife, or other professional who works with pregnant women, new mothers, and their families, there are many ways to increase your professional knowledge and awareness of this important topic.
Click here to apply for a training scholarship offered by PSI-GA!
Perinatal Mental Health 101
PSI-GA now offers free Perinatal Mental Health 101 presentations to providers who work with pregnant and postpartum women. This one-hour presentation focuses on best practices for screening and referring your patients for perinatal mental health challenges. All presentations are facilitated by a trained perinatal mental health specialist and be delivered in a variety of formats.
Downloadable Materials
Help patients and families learn more about perinatal mental health. Use these handouts and poster in your facility. Click on each image to download and print. If you don’t have a color printer, these files can be used to order from your favorite printer. Or, you may order pre-printed copies of some of our materials for your organization, by requesting through our online request form. Orders are free, but optional donations are appreciated.
About Us
The mission of Postpartum Support International, Georgia Chapter (PSI-GA) is to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of maternal mental health issues related to childbearing in Georgia.
On a local level, it is the vision of PSI-GA that every woman and family throughout the state will have access to information, social support, and informed professional care to deal with mental health issues related to childbearing.
PSI-GA is an all-volunteer organization and a State Chapter of Postpartum Support International, a 501(c)(3) organization. The Tax ID number of Postpartum Support International and PSI-GA is 77-0196208.
Meet our Board of Directors
Shantrice Jones, MPH, CPH
Board President, DPH Liaison
shantrice.jones@gmail.com | tel:404-712-1703
Public Health Professional, Researcher, Volunteer, Mom.
1518 Clifton Road NE
Mailstop: 1518-002-8AB
Atlanta, GA 30322
Mica Whitfield, LMSW
Board Vice-President, Advocacy & Government Relations
Program Coordinator- Building Stronger Communities through Program Development. Mom, Advocate, Survivor, Friend, Tea Lover
Colin Gatewood
Treasurer & PSI Liaison
Director of Asset/Liability Management, FHLBank Atlanta. Dad, thinker, eater.
Clare Schexnyder
Secretary & Constituent Services
Founder and CEO, Oh Baby! Fitness. Mom, Entrepreneur, Postpartum Depression Survivor, Community Organizer.
“Exercise, community and counseling saved my life when I had postpartum depression; I’m working with PSI GA to ensure all new and expectant Moms have access to the help and support they need.”
30 Metro Atlanta Oh Baby! Fitness locations
www.ohbabyfitness.com
Elizabeth O’Brien, LPC
Immediate Past President & Founder of PSI-GA, and PSI State Coordinator Liaison
Psychotherapist specializing in Maternal Mental Health. Entrepreneur, Mom, Yogi, Connector.
“Maternal Mental Health is a public health issue; when we support our Mama’s and babies, we can improve the world.”
900 DeKalb Ave NE Suite K
Atlanta GA 30307
www.elizabethobrienlpc.com
Melissa Keane, LAPC
Training Coordinator
melissakeanecounselor@gmail.com
Therapist, Marketer, Connector, Mom.
“I am passionate about making sure all moms and their families feel educated, connected, and supported in their local communities.”
http://www.melissakeanecounselor.com/
Stephanie Galer
Climb Out of the Darkness GA Lead
Wife, Mom, Non-Profit Nerd, PPD Survivor, Cat Person, Owner of 100+ year old house
Silke Von Esenwein
Grants & Foundation Support
Health services researcher with extensive experience evaluating the processes and outcomes of innovative program development and implementation. Her research and programmatic interests include new approaches to improve access and quality in healthcare, improving physical health and healthcare among persons with serious mental disorders and other underserved populations, and women’s reproductive health policy.
Elise Blasingame
Board Development & Recruitment
Doctoral Student, School of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia. Former Executive Director at HMHBGA. Advocate, Partner, Dog Mom.
“I look forward to working with the Board and volunteers of PSI to make a Georgia where there’s no stigma for women living with PMADs and where they can access the services and resources they need.”
Anjli A. Hinman, CNM, FNP, MPH
Fundraising Coordinator
Executive Director and Midwife Director, Atlanta Birth Center and Clinical Instructor at Emory University. Mom, Entrepreneur, Postpartum Depression Survivor, Community Organizer.
1 Baltimore Place NW, Ste 105
Atlanta, GA 30308
www.atlantabirthcenter.org
Keisha Reaves
Volunteer Coordinator
Psychotherapist specializing in Maternal Mental Health. Entrepreneur, Mom, Runner, Collaborator.
“We live in a society where women are expected to be caretakers after giving birth. I wanted to be apart of a community where we take care of women after they’ve given birth.”
1050 Crown Point PKWY, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30338
www.keishareaves.com
LaShea Wattie, M.Ed, MSN, AGCNS-BC, APRN,RNC, C-EFM
Hospital & Provider Liaison
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Independent Legal Nurse Consultant, AWHONN National Membership Committee Member, AWHONN Instructor Trainer & OPS Instructor, Community Organizer, and Presenter.
“I am passionate about saving the lives of mom’s and babies through hard work, dedication, activism and community service, by providing continual high-risk perinatal education to inspire audiences across the region.”
Jennifer L. Barkin, M.S., PhD
Corporate Support & Partnerships
barkinj@gmail.com
Perinatal mental health researcher/professor specializing in the study of postpartum maternal functioning and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Developer of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF). Women’s health advocate, Promoter of Self-Care, Educator, Mentor, and Mom.
“Childbirth is a major medical and life event and we need to begin to treat it as such. When we focus solely on the clinical outcomes of the pregnancy, we send a clear message to mothers that the postpartum period should be natural and easy – this message is often contrary to reality.”
Kris Favers, Ed.S
Community Outreach & Events Lead
Kris.favers@amerigroup.com
Marketing Coordinator for Amerigroup Community Care, Member of Atlanta Healthy Start Consortium’s strategy team.
Laytrina Clemons-Brown, MSN, RN
Scholarship Coordinator
Laytrina.Clemons-Brown@northside.com
Nurse Manager in Women’s Services
“It is humbling to be a part of a community of leaders that puts advocacy, for those who cannot always stand for themselves, first. To take care of others is integral to our survival as humans.”
Jose Rodríguez, MD, MBA, FAAP
Pediatric Liaison
jose.rodriguez@wellstar.org
Pediatrician, faculty member at Medical College of Georgia and Morehouse School of Medicine
Jennifer Rutledge Pettie, JD, MPH
Media Contact, Electronic Communications & Website Lead
jennifer.rutledge.jd.mph@gmail.com
Legal epidemiologist, Associate Vice Chancellor for Healthcare Policy with the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia
“As a public health professional, I appreciate that maternal health and mental health are very much linked to morbidity and mortality. For this reason, I am personally committed to improving access to care to women in need – in spite of socioeconomic factors and challenges that too often act as barriers.”
Contact Us
For more information or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact us using the form below and we’ll be in touch soon.
We want you to know you are not alone and you are not to blame. Help is available. You will get better.
24-Hr Helpline: call 1.800.944.4773 or text 503.894.9453
