Friday, April 10, 2009

GH to Air Public Service Announcement


In the midst of all the gunfire, explosions and mob drama on General Hospital, the soap has always taken the time to properly focus on the topics that hit close to home, including breast cancer, HIV and now postpartum depression.

As heartbreaking and frustrating as Robin Scorpio's (Kimberly McCullough, pictured) behavior has been over the past few months, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Robin barely had a minute to enjoy the birth of baby Emma when postpartum depression took a hold of her and wouldn't let go.

McCullough recently taped a public service announcement about postpartum depression, which will air at the end of the April 16th episode of GH. The soap has joined forces with Postpartum Support International (PSI) to feature the announcement. Also, in May, look for Robin to join a support group that has been cast with real-life mothers who have battled PPD. The disorder affects nearly 1 million women in the U.S. each year.

Jill Farren Phelps, excecutive producer of GH, explains why they have chosen to feature such a dark topic during our love in the afternoon: “As our viewers expect to be entertained each day, they also want to be educated when an important medical issue is integrated into storyline. I am sure some members of our audience are either directly affected with postpartum depression or know someone who is, and we believe it is important to direct our audience to the organizations that can help them.”

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth. To learn more, call PSI at 800-944-4PPD or visit http://www.postpartum.net/.

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