Postpartum Support International's Legal Justice Program Announces Initiatives to Address Perinatal Mental Health Disorders in Legal System

Efforts made possible by $120,000 in new funding, including a $100,000 grant from the Sozosei Foundation   

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Postpartum Support International (PSI) today announced several new legal justice initiatives, developed to expand understanding of perinatal mental health disorders within the legal system. The programs, including two trainings scheduled for November, will educate attorneys and other legal professionals; train perinatal mental health specialists to evaluate cases and serve as expert witnesses; and support women and their families who become involved in the legal system because of perinatal mental illness.

The program is funded by a $100,000 "Decriminalizing Mental Illness" grant from the Sozosei Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global healthcare company Otsuka, along with two $10,000 gifts from private donors. Perinatal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety, are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In some cases, more serious conditions, such as postpartum psychosis, may also occur. When these conditions go unrecognized or are misunderstood in criminal, family, or employment proceedings, the consequences for mothers, children, and families can be severe and long lasting.

"Perinatal mental illness is common, treatable, and still too often misunderstood, and nowhere are the consequences of that misunderstanding greater than in a courtroom," said Wendy Davis, President and CEO of Postpartum Support International. "When a mother's illness goes unrecognized or the impact of these conditions aren't fully addressed in legal proceedings, families can be separated, careers can be lost, and women can be incarcerated when what they needed was treatment. We are deeply grateful to the Sozosei Foundation and our private donors for making this work possible."

PSI's legal justice program gives attorneys and expert witnesses the knowledge to see the full picture, and it gives families support when they need it most. The program was developed with a grant from the Yates Children Memorial Fund (YCMF), which was co-founded by George and Mary Parnham after defending Andrea Yates in Houston, Texas, in 2001. They partnered with Mental Health America (MHA) to provide maternal mental health education to the public to prevent these tragedies from happening in the future. Andrea was not the first nor last mother suffering from postpartum psychosis to be unjustly convicted of murder. Although there is much more to be done on this front in the U.S. justice system, which falls far behind other developed nations in terms of its legal handling of maternal mental illness, the Parnhams' work with MHA did have an impact, as Andrea's retrial yielded a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.

Training perinatal mental health professionals

PSI will prepare perinatal mental health specialists to evaluate cases and provide expert testimony. The following events and initiatives are planned:

• A one-day advanced training for expert witnesses, presented live online on November 19, 2026, with a second session in the first quarter of 2027.
• A new advanced training on parental capacity, now in development, with a live presentation planned for the second quarter of 2027.
• A series of webinars tailored to different areas of legal practice:
  
  • Criminal attorneys: a webinar available now on demand, with a live presentation scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
  • Family law attorneys: a live webinar on November 18, 2026.
  • Employment attorneys: a webinar now in development, with a live presentation planned for the second quarter of 2027.
• PSI will exhibit at conferences hosted by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NACDL, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), and the American Bar Association (ABA).
• The organization will also launch a directory of attorneys who have completed PSI's training, modeled on its existing provider directory, so that families can more easily find informed legal representation.

For more information about the Legal Justice Program and upcoming trainings, visit Postpartum.net/about-psi/legal-justice.

About Postpartum Support International
Founded by a new mother in 1987 to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional difficulties parents can experience during and after pregnancy, Postpartum Support International (PSI) offers a wealth of resources for a wide range of needs, situations, and audiences to give families the strongest and healthiest start possible through support and community. PSI offers support, resources, best-practice training, and certification for healthcare professionals and volunteer coordinators nationwide and in more than 30 countries. PSI is committed to eliminating stigma and ensuring that compassionate, high-quality care and support are available to all families. Need help? Call or text 1-800-944-4PPD (4773), visit Postpartum.net, or download the Connect by PSI app. For prescribing providers in the U.S., PSI operates a free perinatal psychiatric consultation program, staffed by PSI perinatal psychiatric experts who are specialists in the treatment of perinatal mental health disorders.

SOURCE Postpartum Support International