Update on Postpartum Depression Documentary:

More Than Blue

Illuminating the Faces and Voices of Postpartum Depression across America

In the summertime of 2022, we announced our plans to maneuver forward with the production of a documentary on postpartum depression, More Than Blue. A 12 months later, we’re well into production of this essential film. In partnership with Director Julia Marchesi and production company Ark Media (Barak Goodman, Producer), Drs. Lee S. Cohen (Executive Producer and Producer) and Allison Baker (Producer) have been filming the stories of ladies and people near them (friends, partners, colleagues) as they navigate the assorted points of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Considerable ground is roofed from the various experience of postpartum depression (PPD) to managing stigma, to facing the shifts in essential relationships while pregnant and the postpartum period, to coping with the issues of getting access, to those with expertise in perinatal psychiatry. It’s our hope that More Than Blue will catalyze a brand new era of understanding of PPD and the variable challenges women and families face gaining access to care. We’re indebted to the tons of of courageous moms, clinicians, and advocates from across the country who responded to our first request to share stories reflecting their individual and family journeys. Each narrative has played a key role in shaping the trajectory of the film, and we’re moved and inspired by the outpouring of support for the project.

We hope many moms with lived experience of PPD will have the ability to discover with the stories captured within the documentary. To do that, we wish to incorporate the perspectives of a various group of ladies. While many interviews have been conducted, we ask on your continued support in helping us discover individuals who could also be willing to participate. We wish to include two additional women who’re early on within the postpartum period (under one 12 months) and recovering from postpartum depression. It was at all times our hope to capture birthing individuals from across America, and we’re particularly fascinated by connecting with postpartum women from the South, Southwest and Western states with a concentrate on women of color. For those who or someone you realize is recently postpartum and fascinated by learning more, please contact us through our interest form.

Along with the sharing of non-public individual stories, a crucial component of the documentary shall be highlighting the resources available to moms in need of support and treatment during such a critical point of their lives. Whether virtual or in-person, support groups remain some of the worthwhile resources, and as such we’re grateful for the chance to feature the First Connections Latest Moms group based in Massachusetts as a part of the movie. We hope that capturing the candid discussion of the struggles and joys of recent motherhood and the postpartum experience will break down partitions of shame and isolation which many ladies describe as we reassure these individuals that they should not alone.

The film is predicted to be accomplished in 2024. We very much sit up for sharing more details with you within the months to return.

Lee S. Cohen, M.D.
Director, Center for Women’s Mental Health, Mass General Hospital
Executive Producer, More Than Blue

Allison Baker, M.D.
Producer, More Than Blue

Julia Marchesi
Director, More Than Blue

Barak Goodman
Senior Producer, More Than Blue

Eliza Mitnick
Associate Producer, More Than Blue