Families First RI Documentary airing on RI PBS

Raise the Curtain: Moving Through Darkness Sheds Light on Postpartum Depression

Rhode Island PBS Hosts an Off-Camera Call-In Referral Help Line During Broadcast

PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND (September 22, 2014) - One in seven new mothers will experience postpartum depression within a year of giving birth. Raise the Curtain: Moving Through Darkness is a new documentary film that seeks to demystify this most common complication of childbirth. Rhode Island PBS airs Raise the Curtain: Moving Through Darkness on Thursday, October 2 at 8 p.m. During the broadcast, an off-camera referral help line will be staffed by trained volunteers and staff from Families First Rhode Island and the Moms for Moms program.

“Raise the Curtain sheds light in a moving and creative way on a problem that afflicts a staggering number of women who suffer in silence with this misunderstood disorder,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. “We’re pleased to air this film, and to open up our studio to make Families First’s help available to our viewers. This is an example of our commitment to air more local programming that is relevant to our audience, and to work with the community to spark conversations and bring attention to important issues such as mental health and wellness.”

Produced by Rhode Island filmmaker Soren Sorensen, Raise the Curtain: Moving Through Darkness features compelling stories of Rhode Island families who have experienced postpartum depression firsthand. The film juxtaposes these heartfelt dialogues with original choreography by obstetrician gynecologist Colleen Cavanaugh, MD, and performed by Part of the Oath. The expressive ballet movements eloquently portray a woman’s internal struggle with the disorder and triumphs over postpartum depression, with a goal to raise awareness and decrease the stigma related to this misunderstood mood disorder.

“The symptoms and stigma related to postpartum depression are, I think, largely unknown to most of us,” said filmmaker Soren Sorensen. “Like many devastating life experiences, postpartum depression is essentially ignored until families are ambushed by them. Postpartum depression, while very treatable, carries with it shame and isolation capable of rendering new mothers unwilling or unable to ask for help, and during a time they expected to be filled with rapturous joy.”

Families First Rhode Island works to end that shame and isolation by promoting the secure and nurturing parent-child relationships that are the foundation of every child’s overall well-being and future success. Families First conducts Moms For Moms, a program to help mothers who are pregnant or recently had a baby. Jamie Puleo, executive director of Families First Rhode Island, observed that some of these mothers could be at risk for or may be suffering from postpartum depression. “Our Moms for Moms program offers peer mentoring, support, and friendship through weekly visits from well-trained volunteers or ‘Mentor Moms,’” she said. Ms. Puleo explained that volunteers are given extensive training and supervision in supporting women dealing with pregnancy and postpartum adjustment issues, including maternal depression.

“As you will see, Raise the Curtain: Moving Through Darkness follows the story of four mothers in our program. We hope that hearing their stories will encourage women to feel comfortable seeking help, whether they are depressed or feeling isolated or anxious with the changes that can occur when a new child is brought into the family,” Ms. Puleo said.

“The fact that Families First RI can offer mentorship and support to these mothers and so many more, at no cost, is astonishing,” said Mr. Sorensen. “This project is a unique collaboration that, as I near the end of the editing process, continues to challenge and educate me. I hope it does the same for audiences.”

“We are grateful for Rhode Island PBS to not only share this film with their community but to also allow us to be a part of the evening by providing us an opportunity to be available to the viewers with a live call in component,” Ms. Puleo said. Our hope is that we will be able to reach more mothers and families with support and a sense of community when they may need it most.”

Trained volunteers, board members and staff from Families First Rhode Island will be in the Rhode Island PBS studios to staff an off-camera phone bank during the October 2 broadcast. New moms and loved ones who may have questions are invited to call during the film for referral and support. Women interested in being volunteers are also invited to call.

About Soren Sorensen

Soren Sorensen is a filmmaker specializing in educational telecommunications and advocacy cinema for non-profit organizations. Last year, Sorensen co-created, produced, and directed Behind the Ribbon, three original documentaries featuring stories of breast cancer treatment and survivorship. The series premiered on Rhode Island PBS in March of 2013. Sorensen’s first animated short, Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?, was included in the 2014 Providence Children’s Film Festival. Sorensen is currently a member of the adjunct faculty in the Film Studies Department at Rhode Island College. In addition to directing, producing, and editing, Sorensen is a composer of music for film and television. His work has appeared on Showtime, the History Channel, the Travel Channel, CNN International, Logo, and College Sports TV. Lucid (2013), a short film by Derek Dubois for which Sorensen produced the soundtrack, was included in the 2013 Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival.

About Families First Rhode Island

Families First is a 501(c)(3) organization providing support for women with postpartum depression The mission of Families First is to provide in-home psychiatric evaluations, treatment referrals, social support, and parenting education to women who are experiencing, or who are at risk for, depression. Pregnant women and those in the postpartum year are referred to us by hospitals, visiting nurses and psychiatrists. Families First addresses the challenges of postpartum adjustment and the risks of maternal depression by providing peer mentoring through weekly home visits with our trained and supervised volunteers, as well as social and educational gatherings.For more information about Families First, visit www.familiesfirstri.org.

About Rhode Island PBS


WSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE is a viewer-supported member of the PBS system of independent public broadcasting stations. WSBE programs and operates Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1) and Learn (digital 36.2), and broadcasts the Spanish-language Vme network on digital 36.3. CWSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE is a viewer-supported member of the PBS system of independent public broadcasting stations. WSBE programs and operates Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1) and Learn (digital 36.2), and broadcasts the Spanish-language Vme network on digital 36.3. Committed to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org.ommitted to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org