By: Nicki Reid, Bilingual BA
* Trigger Warning: this blog may contain sensitive content, please proceed with this in mind. *
Firstly, what is postpartum mental health? Mental health is defined as: the state of your psychological and emotional well-being. Postpartum is defined as: the period from child birth up until the first six to eight weeks after delivery. Thus, postpartum mental health is: your mental and emotional state after you’ve had your baby. Note, that while the definition of postpartum states that it’s within the first 8 weeks after you deliver, the changes that happen during this time can last far beyond eight weeks. Throughout this blog, you’ll encounter the term perinatal mental health which refers to a person's mental well-being during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and first year after childbirth. The data shows that 49% of Canadian mothers and birthing parents suffer challenges with their mental health postpartum. Some factors that can contribute to those challenges are: hormonal shifts, lack of sleep, little to no (hands-on, social, emotional) support, personal and family history of mental issues, stressful events such as a traumatic birth experience, exposure to domestic violence, etc. After giving birth, you may exhibit some of the following signs: mood swings, sleep problems, sadness, feeling hopeless and / or helpless, trouble concentrating, irritability, etc. This is known as the baby blues and impacts 80% of mothers. Generally, these symptoms pass with support and self-care. However, if they last for longer than a few weeks and become more intense, you may have postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is one of several postpartum mental health conditions that you may encounter; others include: postpartum anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and / or postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms after childbirth and affects 1-2 cases per 1000 births. It’s a dangerous form of postpartum depression and is considered a mental health emergency because it’s characterized by: loss of touch from reality, hallucinations (involving one’s senses - smell, touch, sight, taste, etc.), paranoia, urges to harm themselves and / or their newborns. Please seek help immediately if you or anyone you know displays any of the above.
When it comes to seeking postpartum mental health care in Canada, if you have a valid health card, you don’t usually pay for public or government funded services. This includes programs and / or services that are hospital based, run out of public health units or community health centers. Moreover, if you’re referred to a psychiatrist by a healthcare provider (i.e. your doctor), it’s typically free. Keep in mind, while publicly funded mental health programs and services are free, there may be (significant) wait times depending on your location. Additionally, some provinces and territories have free mental health support lines; in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, you can call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse and receive (postpartum) mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In British Columbia, there’s Crisis Lines BC, the Provincial Mental Health Helpline 1-866-355-5550 (New Brunswick), The Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (MHMCT) in Nova Scotia, and the NWT Helpline 1-800-661-0844 (Northwest Territories). Canada-wide, contact the Suicide Crisis Helpline by calling or texting 9-8-8.
Another free resource that some of the provinces and territories offer is self-paced online programs. For instance, in Saskatchewan, the University of Regina has an Online Therapy Unit which provides free courses including a wellbeing course for new and expecting parents and is accompanied by support from a therapist. Other free services for postpartum mental health incorporate group programs, for example, the Postpartum Therapy Group by The Family Tree in Edmonton, Alberta. In Ontario, Postpartum Matters is a free online group therapy program available through the Women’s College Hospital. In addition to serving the postpartum population, they also provide services to better support young parents under the age of 24 and Black parents. Mino Care also offers a variety of perinatal services for Black parents e.g. free counselling in group and 1:1 settings.
In regards to private practice (postpartum) mental health care, you’ll likely receive support faster and doctor’s referrals normally aren’t required. For this reason, seeing a mental health professional in private practice might be more appealing; however, across Canada, fees can range from $120 (or lower) to $350 (and up) per session. How much you’ll pay will depend on a few different factors and some of them are: the type of practitioner you see (for example, a psychologist vs. a social worker vs. a psychotherapist vs. a counselor etc.), geographic location, credentials, area(s) of specialization, etc. To offset these costs, you can use private or employer-provided insurance so long as it’s covered under your plan. You may receive a reduced rate with private practice professionals by asking if they have sliding scale services or student interns available whose rates may be more affordable. For instance, in British Columbia, The PSYCHOTHERAPY ROOM provides prenatal and postpartum counselling services that range from $160 - $190 per session, as well as a lower-priced alternative of $50 per session. Organizations such as Pacific Post Partum Society offer various free and low-cost postpartum support options. In the Northwest Territories, private practices like Bloom Wellness YK specialize in perinatal mental health services that health insurance may cover, but they also provide sliding scale services. These options can be helpful for those who don’t have a health card. It’s worthwhile to know that in Nunavut, if a healthcare provider advises that you’ll need to travel for mental health treatment, you could be compensated for travel fees under medical travel benefits. Airfare will be covered to your nearest treatment facility less a $250 round trip deductible. Furthermore, Indigenous people across Canada can access immediate (mental health) support by calling 1-855-242-3310 toll free or visiting the Hope for Wellness Helpline. They can also look into the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program for mental health counselling coverage across Canada.
Lastly, for more information, visit the Resources for Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health Support page via The Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada that provides resources from organizations, podcasts, apps, books, and more. Dearest mama, I know firsthand how scary and unfamiliar this space can be. You don’t have to be there alone. Stay informed, take deep care, and be well.
Nicki Reid, Bilingual BA
Certified Transformational Health and Life Coach | Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher | Certified Emotional Emancipation Facilitator | Certified Reiki Practitioner | Founder, Wholesome Mind Health Coaching
