CPSC and Congress at Odds: Nancy A. Nord, the acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has asked Congress to reject legislation that aims to increase funding and personnel at the CPSC, among other goals. Ms. Nord’s specific complaints include an objection to the proposed raise on the cap for penalties from $1.8 million to $100 million, which she feels would cause companies to flood the agency with every consumer complaint and incident. Ms. Nord also feels that a complete ban of lead in toys would be impractical.

PPD and Talk: Via Postpartum Progress, Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons highlights a study that finds that talk therapy and support groups can be effective at helping women through postpartum depression. In this study, the investigators reviewed 10 clinical trials that included nearly 1,000 women. The trials tested psychological and social interventions that included cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, and peer support groups facilitated by a health care professional. They found that women who received any of the psychological or social therapies were 30% less likely to have depressive symptoms within one year after giving birth compared to women who received postpartum care as usual. Additionally, peer support groups appeared to be just as effective as formal psychological care, such as CBT, which is great news for moms who can’t afford a weekly trip to a therapist.