Andrea is angry that she had no access to a perinatal mental health specialist.
Transcript
It makes me very upset. It makes me angry. The fact that no one even brought up the words postpartum. Look, I know medical practitioners are very busy. They’re very stressed out in this province also, but the fact that – you know, there was just no access to any sort of specialist to help me through this and to provide support when so many women go through this is absolutely unacceptable to me. It’s shocking. I know other provinces that have special wards to deal with this specific issue. I think it’s atrocious in this day and age.
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- Advice for Policymakers – AndreaAndrea describes the need for a safe space for moms to get mental health care and support.
- Coping with Perinatal Mental Health – AndreaAndrea started her own peer support group.
- Medication and Treatment Approaches – AndreaAndrea still has nightmares about her inpatient psychiatry admission.
- Seeking and Finding Reliable Information – AndreaAndrea created a Facebook group for maternal mental health awareness that meets periodically to support each other.
- Gaps in Health Care System – AndreaAndrea is angry that she had no access to a perinatal mental health specialist.
- Communicating with Health Care Providers – AndreaAndrea found a new provider who had more time for her care.
- Work, Finances and Mental Health – AndreaOnce on leave, Andrea spent the days trembling in fear, anxious about what to do during the day.
- Relationships – AndreaHearing Andrea's thoughts of self-harm was deeply traumatic for her family members.
- Stigma and Feeling Judged – AndreaFor Andrea, feelings of judgement regarding medication use for mental health issues is not uncommon.
- Bonding – AndreaWhile others helped care for the newborn, Andrea had to figure out how to do it on her own.