Conference: 2026 Postpartum Support International (Los Angeles)
Why I keep coming back to PSI | 3 min read
“We’re all here because we’ve suffered a maternal mental health disorder — or know someone who has.”
👆Wendy Davis, President of Postpartum Support International reminded us why we came together at the this year’s annual conference in Los Angeles.
The session that gave me the biggest ‘aha’ moment was on maternal rage with Nicole McNelis and Kirsten Lipari.
It felt like therapy. It helped me understand myself better – and why maternal mental health advocacy means so much to me.
First, a primer on maternal rage:
- What it is: Intense, uncontrollable anger related to mothering that often stems from powerlessness, injustice, and stress.
- What it looks like: Yelling, overstimulation, resentment, overwhelm. Followed by guilt and shame.
- Why it happens: Violated expectations (like unfair division of chores) + unmet basic needs (sleep, food, self-care)
- 80% of providers see clients with postpartum rage
Today, we picture the ‘ideal mom’ with a clean house, home-cooked meals, and who’s always patient.
Here’s what we DON’T picture: A mom who is well-rested, surrounded by support, or supported by the system.
When we expect mothers to do more than one person can sustain, rage shouldn’t surprise us. It should make us question the system. Not moms.
Then, came the biggest takeaway:
💫 Externalizing maternal rage is how change begins.
Rage tells us something isn’t working. When we dismiss rage as irrational or unproductive, we miss the opportunity to fix the root cause.
That’s why I keep coming back to PSI.
This is a community of perinatal mental health experts, providers, researchers, advocates, and volunteers who help moms through their rage, anxiety, depression, OCD, and psychosis.
AND we use our collective rage and lived experience as the catalyst for better care, stronger advocacy, and real systems change — so the next mom doesn’t have to suffer unnecessarily.
📣 If you’re a mom who needs support or a provider who wants to better support families, visit Postpartum Support International.
As Nicole said: “Maternal rage isn’t a meltdown. It’s a message.”
Grateful to part of this incredible community that's listening, and doing something about it 💙
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