For Men
How Fathers, Family, Friends Can Help
April 2014
A mum guilty of infanticide after killing her baby girl and injuring the child's twin has avoided jail
The 39 year old mother pleased guilty to infanticide over the death of her eight week old daughter and recklessly causing serious injury to the baby's sister. Infanticide applies for mothers suffering a mental disturbance caused by childbirth and carries a maximum jail term of five years. The babies, who had frequent crying bouts, trouble feeding and were not gaining weight were diagnosed with colic. After exonerating the baby father's early on, police discovered his wife had been abusing the babies from the time they arrived home in late February following a cesarean birth.
Free Booklets to Use as Resources
Here are some links to websites that you can go to to order free booklets to use as resources:
TIP 51: Substance Abuse Treatment: Addressing the Specific Needs of Women
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA13-4426/SMA13-4426.pdf
Addressing the Needs of Women and Girls: Developing Core Competencies for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Professionals
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA11-4657/SMA11-4657.pdf
Women and Girls Excelling Strategies
W.A.G.E.S. (Women and Girls Excelling Strategies) is hosting a series of Gender-Responsive Strategies evidenced-based trainings throughout the County of San Bernardino. These free trainings will help social and government organizations acquire the best practices for dealing with women and girls under the AB109 Realignment. The last of these trainings will be held in the west end of the county at Reach Out, in Upland, on May 16, 2014 from 12pm to 5pm. Go to www.timeforchangefoundation.org for more information.
Antidepressants and breastfeeding can mix, study suggests
Women on antidepressants are more successful at breastfeeding their babies if they keep taking the medication, a study has shown. Researchers say the health benefits of continued breastfeeding greatly outweigh any perceived risk to the baby from antidepressant medicaiton.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140410095410.htm
Baby-killing mum to be sentenced
Amy Black, 40, will be sentenced on May 14, 2014 for killing her seven month old daughter, Zoe. A pathologist was unable to give a medical cause of death but said most likely cause was drowning. Two psychiatrists viewed Black "significantly mentally disturbed".
http://www.nottinghampost.com/baby-killing-mum-sentenced/story-20954228-...
Young fathers face higher risk of depression, study finds
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics examined the mental health of male young adults transitioning to fatherhood. The transition to fatherhood is particularly challenging for males who became fathers around the age of 25 and who live with the child. Symtoms of depression increased on average by 68 percent over the first 5 years of fatherhood for those men.
http://www.statecolumn.com/2014/04/young-fathers-face-higher-risk-of-depression/
How Could She? Mother Accused in Deaths of Infants
Megan Huntsman, 39, admitted she either strangled or suffocated six of her children, wrapped their bodies in towels or shirts and then put them in plastic bags before entombing them in the garage. Infanticide is when women kill a single newborn, often after an unexpected pregnancy and generally do not do it again. Hunstman will not be the first convicted of serial infanticide. Although it is rare, it happens all over the globe. Hunstman was arrested on six counts of murder and is being held on $6 million bail. Authorities said a seventh baby appears to have been stillborn. It is unclear how she was able to conceal so many pregnancies from her estranged husband and three older daughters.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/how-could-she-mother-accused...