This event is very important to me, as I personally suffered from postpartum depression and anxiety after having both of my girls. Many people think that women only experience the "baby blues" in the first few months after having a baby, but in my case it crept up on me much later (definitely associated with the hormone shift of weaning from breastfeeding!). I also work with pregnant and postpartum women through the Stony Brook WIC program, and the support for women struggling with PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) is severely lacking on Long Island! Therapists and group support for our Spanish-speaking population is sadly almost non-existent. Let's change that and work to break the stigma against perinatal mental health! It takes a village, yet we are expecting women to struggle alone.

Thank you for your support!

Laura Rogers

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Help us break the silence of mental illness as we join together and support a community that inspires hope. The event is taking place on Saturday, May 20th in Brightwaters.

All of the proceeds from the event go to the Postpartum Resource Center of New York.

The sound of silence can be deafening.

Those who struggle with mental health know this well because they deal with it every day. Unfortunately, many of their family members and loved ones do not know they need help – until it’s too late.

My sister Lisa suffered from postpartum depression and recovered – and the Postpartum Resource Center of New York (PRCNY) was a vital reason why my sister got better. After that experience, my sister and I made a pact to raise awareness and funds so that the Postpartum Resource Center of New York’s programs and services would be available for everyone in need. Tragically, Lisa succumbed to depression in 2014.

While heartbroken, this made us more determined than ever to continue our efforts. We raised more funds and created a Take Care of You campaign to reach out to high school students. We were committed to continue the vision Lisa set in 2007. Despite this, silence struck our family again in 2018 when we lost my sister Susanne to mental illness.

Losing two sisters to mental illness is something I struggle with each day. “What could I have done better?” is a constant question that I’ll never be able to answer. But rather than focus on what I can’t change, I’m focusing my efforts on preventing this from happening to anyone else. That’s why we need your help.

Please consider one of the sponsorship opportunities and help us break the silence!

Sounds of Silence is a fundraising committee of the PRCNY. All proceeds contributed support the essential programs and services of the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc., a 501(c)(3) IRS recognized non-profit organization. Tax ID# 11-3449880. All donations should be made payable to: The Postpartum Resource Center of New York.

Sincerely yours,

Erin Mascaro
Event Co-Chairperson/Race Director
soundsofsilenceny.org