Hats off to Hayden Panettiere for going public about her struggle with postpartum
depression. I’m glad she had the courage to get help and the bravery to share her experience with the world. But I’d like to give special thanks to two celebrities who have gone the extra mile to support women and postpartum mental health causes.
The first is Aarti Sequeira, celebrity chef who has twice supported Postpartum Support International (PSI) when she competed in Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen Superstar Sabotage. I recently purchased her latest cookbook, Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul. It’s filled with great recipes, beautiful photos, and inspiring stories of Aarti’s family. Two of my favorite recipes are “Quinoa Tabbouleh” and “Manamana Chicken.” Thank you Aarti.
The other is Valerie Plame Wilson, former CIA agent of “Fair Game” fame. Valerie wrote about her experience with postpartum depression after the birth of her twins. If a strong and savvy woman like Valerie can struggle with sleep deprivation in the postpartum period, then it can happen to anyone. Valerie has supported women’s mental health for many years and serves on PSI’s President’s Advisory Council. I’ve read all three of Valerie’s books, and especially enjoyed her spy novels, “Blowback” and “Burned.”
I had the pleasure of meeting Valerie and her husband Joe recently at their home in Santa Fe. They were warm and gracious hosts. My husband and I really enjoyed hearing their insider stories of politics and life in Washington, D.C.
