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No one will escape this life without feeling the pain of loss, and there is no better way to channel that pain than through creating something beautiful out of it. In today\u2019s show, you\u2019ll meet a devoted husband and father who wasn\u2019t content to wallow in his loss on the sidelines. He\u2019s turned his pain into purpose as he helps countless families through the challenges of maternal mental health treatment.\nSteven D\u2019Achille is president and founder of The Alexis Joy D\u2019Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression. He\u2019s an advocate for maternal mental health issues because he realizes that women\u2019s health is a family health issue. His passion is creating access to care for struggling families. He\u2019ll go deep into his story today, sharing how postpartum depression took the life of his wife, Alexis. I\u2019ve had the pleasure of serving on the board of Postpartum Support International with Steven, and I\u2019ve seen up close his passion and dedication springing from the horrible and unnecessary outcome of his wife\u2019s death. He is changing the landscape in Pittsburgh and wherever he goes to share his wife\u2019s story and the foundation in her name. Steven is a passionate advocate for fathers, in addition to his support of maternal mental health because he realizes the need for caring for the whole family, especially fathers and partners. As his six-year-old daughter, Adriana puts it, \u201cHe wanted to change the world.\u201d\n**Sensitivity Notice: Difficult topics are discussed in this episode related to suicide. If you aren\u2019t in a place to listen today, feel free to find the episode at a later date.\nShow Highlights:\n\nGet to know Steven and his story that began with the traumatic birth of his daughter, Adriana\n\nHow Steven\u2019s wife, Alexis, believed that her first act of motherhood was to damage her child\n\nHow things started unraveling almost immediately for Alexis, who knew she needed help\n\nHow Alexis experienced serious anxiety and saw an LCSW for coping mechanisms, receiving a PTSD diagnosis\n\nThe increased anxiety, shame and stigma, and scary options\n\nMore symptoms included depression, insomnia, and loss of appetite\n\nThe disconnect between psychiatric care and Ob care for mothers\n\nHow HIPAA rules prevented the pediatrician from notifying anyone of her concerns about Alexis\n\nHow Alexis was prescribed an antidepressant and the depression escalated to suicidal thoughts; her plea for help went unacknowledged\n\nHow Alexis begged to be admitted for weeks and then hung herself in their basement--just 14 days after beginning the new antidepressant\n\nHow the system failed Alexis\n\nHow Alexis survived to get to the hospital and make it to ICU\n\nHow Steven got clarity on how to move forward and make something good come out of Alexis\u2019 tragedy, to get other moms the help Alexis could not get\n\nHow The Alexis Joy D\u2019Achille Foundation\u2019s hospital treated 3000 moms in 2019\n\nThe family services provided by the foundation\n\nThe importance of a father\u2019s perspective in going through this journey and raising a 6-\xbd-year-old daughter without her mom\n\nHow our laws protect puppies more than we do moms and babies\n\nThe reality of postpartum depression treatment in the US---and what needs to change\n\nThe power in telling your story\n\nWhat the new standard of care should be\n\nResources:\nAlexis Joy Foundation\nFacebook: Alexis Joy D\u2019Achille Foundation for Postpartum Depression: @Alexisjoydachille\nInstagram: @ajd_foundation