Name: Meghan Schreck
Age: 32
Profession: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Hometown: Hudson, MA, USA
Current City: Burlington, VT, USA
Hobbies: I love playing soccer and watching my husband perform improv at Vermont Comedy Club!
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE UP-STAND MOVEMENT?
First and foremost, I joined the UP-STAND movement to support one of my very best friends and the CEO of UP-STAND, Christine Serdjenian Yearwood. I also joined the UP-STAND movement because I wanted to support and promote the health of pregnant women everywhere. To me, UP-STAND’s mission of making public spaces and transportation safer for pregnant women extends beyond women’s physical health and includes mental health and equal rights for pregnant women as well.
While pregnancy is often a joyous time for many women and families, it may also be a unique time of stress and mental health vulnerability. This includes but is not limited to (1) distress related to infertility, (2) anxiety and/or depression during or soon after pregnancy, (3) managing pre-existing mental health problems, and (4) diverse behavioral health decisions (e.g., medications, nutrition, exercise, sleep) during and after pregnancy.
Some evidence-based resources for women’s mental health issues can be found here:
https://womensmentalhealth.org
http://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/meds/treatingfortwo/
UP-STAND products offer people an easy and affordable way to increase awareness related to health concerns of pregnant women. These products may provide opportunities for pregnant women to effectively communicate their needs, identify allies, and problem-solve potentially stressful situations, like asking for a seat on public transit or finding a parking spot at a safe distance from their destination.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR UP-STAND EXPERIENCE SO FAR?
More than anything, I have found that wearing my UP-STAND supporter pin has raised awareness of health promotion for pregnant women and increased the conversation around what this means and how to help. Several women have asked me what my UP-STAND pin means. These questions often lead to greater conversations about the many ways in which public spaces can be improved to increase safety, health, and quality of life for pregnant women, including maternity leave and safe spaces for breast feeding or pumping.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I throw amazing Oscar parties every year!
TELL US SOMETHING YOU ARE LOVING ABOUT YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
I recently defended my doctoral dissertation and will be starting my clinical psychology internship/residency at Alpert Medical School of Brown University working with children and adolescents in the pediatric anxiety research center (PARC). I am looking forward to obtaining more specialty training in the area of anxiety, OCD, and tic disorders for youth.
Follow Meghan on Instagram @schreckdiggity to get updates about her clinical work and research. (And prepare to get major Oscar party envy!).