Perinatal Mental Health

Welcome to this online resource that presents the results of a research project about women’s* experiences of mental health problems during and after pregnancy. This is an important problem that affects about one in five women globally. For this project, we spoke to 31 women from across Canada who volunteered to share their stories of living with mental health challenges while pregnant and/or after the birth of their baby. Important topics included the signs and symptoms of mental illness, seeking help, interacting with healthcare professionals, undergoing evaluations, and receiving a diagnosis. Additionally, they discussed obtaining a diagnosis, accessing treatment, coping strategies, and managing interpersonal relationships. The women also shared advice both for individuals experiencing these challenges and for those providing support to them.

There are 20 different topic pages that summarize what women told us, with excerpts from their interviews (video, audio or text depending on their consent) to illustrate what was important to them.

Our team would like to acknowledge the courage of the women we spoke with, many of whom overcame their own fears of stigma and negative experiences to share their stories to help others. These women wanted to make sure that other women know they are not alone, and that there can be hope for many situations.

What do we mean by perinatal mental health problems?

For the purposes of this study, we defined the ‘perinatal period’ as the time during pregnancy and up to one year after childbirth. Our team adopted a broader definition of mental health issues, encompassing a range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, thought and/or behavioural problems, and substance use disorders. By utilizing this broader definition, we aimed to capture a wider spectrum of mental health challenges, thereby ensuring the study more accurately reflects the diverse issues faced by women in clinical settings. However, we excluded individuals with acute severe mental illness who are currently hospitalized or under intensive specialist care, as these cases warrant separate, dedicated studies.

A difficult topic – getting help

The women who participated in this study wanted to raise the awareness of these issues amongst the general public, healthcare professionals, and women experiencing mental health challenges, to help improve services and experiences for other women. But, this is a difficult topic for many people, and some may find the stories and experiences in this module troubling and triggering. If you feel upset or troubled by reading these stories, or by your own feelings and thoughts – especially if you feel like hurting yourself or others – please reach out for help. On this site, we have included a link to resources that provide trustworthy support and information.

Please do not hesitate to ask for help at any time and know that you can:

• Call 911 for emergency services;
• Call 988 for the suicide crisis helpline if at risk of harming yourself or anyone else;
• Call 811 to access a free, 24/7 confidential health information and advice service, offering nurse advice and general health information, as well as tele-triage and navigation services.

 

Project Team (see also Credits section)

The research for this module was undertaken by a research team based at St. Mary’s Research Centre in Montreal and at the University of Toronto, with engagement from community-based organizations and people with lived experience. This project was delayed and interrupted over time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

*Please note that for the purposes of this study, we are using the term ‘women’ to be inclusive of all people and genders who are pregnant and giving birth, irrespective of the person’s (parent’s) sex at birth.