About the Event
Info: Join us for a special screening of Another Happy Day, a postpartum depression comedy, followed by a panel discussion featuring writer/director Nora Fiffer and maternal mental health experts.
ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO POSTPARTUM SUPPORT VIRGINIA (postpartumva.org) and PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS AWARENESS DAY (pppawarenessday.org)
As this event supports maternal mental health, please feel free to bring your infants! No stress on babies making noise. We’ve all been there! If you’re looking for a day out away from the kiddos, the following are some ideas for childcare on the day of our event:
Parking is available on Cary Street, nearby side streets, and in the paid parking deck directly behind the theater off Colonial Avenue ($1 for 12 hours). Please note that private lots near the theater are restricted, and cars may be ticketed for parking in no-parking zones. A passenger loading zone is available directly in front of the theater for easy drop-offs. The theater is also conveniently located on the GRTC bus line.
The Byrd Theater is wheelchair accessible, with level platforms and companion seating in the auditorium, as well as an accessible restroom in the lobby.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Who Are We Supporting
Postpartum Support Virginia
Postpartum Support Virginia (PSVa) is the leading non-profit organization in Virginia educating families, healthcare providers, and communities about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) while providing essential resources to support recovery. Their mission is to help new and expectant parents overcome challenges like anxiety and depression, ensuring that no one faces these struggles alone.
PSVa envisions a future where all birthing people and parents in Virginia are informed about PMADs, screened during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and have access to the resources they need for recovery.
They fulfill this mission by:
• Offering peer-led social support services by individuals with lived experience of PMADs.
• Educating healthcare and mental health professionals about PMADs, including screening and treatment approaches.
• Serving as a trusted resource for information and referrals to trained professionals.
• Collaborating with communities to develop local solutions and increase awareness.
A portion of the proceeds from this charitable event will go directly to PSVa, supporting their mission to provide education, resources, and hope to parents across Virginia.
Cherished Mom’s Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day
A portion of the proceeds from this event will also support Cherished Mom’s Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day, the first U.S.-based awareness campaign dedicated to perinatal psychosis. Launched on May 7, 2021 by survivors, this annual event occurs on the first Friday of May, and raises awareness, educates communities, and provides critical support to survivors, families, and healthcare providers about the most severe perinatal mental health disorder.
PPP affects at least 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 women in the first three months postpartum and is always considered a medical emergency. With rapid and often unexpected onset, PPP can lead to symptoms that may put mothers and their families at risk. Despite its severity, public awareness of this condition remains limited, leaving many families unprepared to recognize the warning signs or seek help.
Donations to PPP Awareness Day enable continued efforts to share stories, honor lives, and build a future where this illness is better understood and addressed.
The Backstory
The Another Happy Day screening and panel discussion is the result of a unique collaboration between Brookside Psychiatric Specialists and Nora Fiffer, the film’s writer and director. Nora, a long-time friend of one of Brookside’s Nurse Practitioners, Elizabeth Markey, first crossed paths with the Brookside team through a shared passion for mental health advocacy. Nora and Elizabeth’s friendship, dating back to their shared time at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, sparked the idea to marry Nora’s creative exploration of postpartum depression in her film with the advocacy, education, and awareness work that Brookside is so deeply committed to.
Driven by their passion for serving the perinatal mental health community, the Brookside team jumped at the chance to bring this event to life—a first of its kind. This screening is more than just a film event; it’s an opportunity to engage the community in meaningful dialogue about maternal mental health, connect stakeholders across Virginia, and support two incredible organizations, Postpartum Support Virginia and Cherished Mom, in their missions to tackle maternal mental health. Through this event, Brookside is proud to extend their commitment to improving the health and well-being of their community beyond the practice walls and into the broader conversation on awareness, support, and education.
We invite you to join us for an afternoon of storytelling, education, and meaningful conversation as we come together to support maternal mental health and the families affected by perinatal mental illness.
