For information on Missouri's PMDD Awareness Day Event, please contact
Steve and Marybeth Bohn at talkaboutpmdd@gmail.com
The inaugural PMDD Awareness Day in Missouri will include online and in-person activities to educate the public about PMDD and support those affected by it. An informative event will kick off at 2 p.m. CDT at the Missouri State Capitol.
This inaugural day was established in memory of Christina Elizabeth Bohn (October 2, 1988 –
November 3, 2021), who suffered from PMDD for about 11 years before she died by suicide.
“After Christina’s death, we made a commitment to raise awareness about the disorder and to end PMDD suicides,” said Marybeth Bohn, Christina’s mother.
The public is encouraged to join in raising awareness for PMDD by using the hashtag #PMDDAwarenessDay and sharing personal stories, educational resources, and messages of support on social media.
“It is essential to bring attention to PMDD and other premenstrual disorders as they often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and understanding,” said Sandi MacDonald, co-founder and Executive Director of IAPMD.
“This is just the start. Premenstrual disorders are still an emerging topic in women's mental health research and the mainstream health dialogue. PMDD Awareness Day will help bring new awareness and new hope to our PMDD community."
With support from IAPMD, the observance aims to raise awareness of PMDD, a cyclical, hormone-based mood disorder that affects an estimated 1 in 20 menstruating individuals and lies at the intersection of two deeply stigmatized issues - menstruation and mental health. PMDD can cause severe emotional, professional, and personal suffering, and those with PMDD are at increased risk for suicide and suicidal behavior.
