CHICAGO (April 20, 2004) - The Archdiocese of Chicago will host a forum on postpartum depression - the illness that affects some women after they give birth to a child -- from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, at St. Martha Catholic Parish, 8523 Georgiana Avenue, in Morton Grove.

Medical, community, and pastoral presentations on postpartum depression will be offered at the forum, and those attending will be invited to l earn how to discern and respond if a loved one may be suffering from the illness. The forum is being held in connection with both the celebration of Mother's Day and the Illinois recognition of May as postpartum depression awareness month.

After receiving a letter from a woman who lost a niece to postpartum psychosis (a severe form of postpartum depression), Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, asked the Archdiocesan Women's Committee - along with the Archdiocesan Office for Councils, the archdiocesan Elizabeth Ministry and certain individuals whose family members were particularly affected by this illness -- to formulate a Catholic pastoral response to this topic.

Attendance is free, but donations will be welcome to further enable the work of postpartum depression education and prevention in the Archdiocese of Chicago. For more information, contact Kim Hagerty, archdiocesan Elizabeth Ministry Coordinator, at (312) 751-8351, or register online at www.familyministries.org/ppdf.htm .