WEBINAR: Centering Primary Health Care in the Advancement of Perinatal Mental Health

The Science of Physiologic Birth Research Cluster hosted a webinar titled, Centering Primary Health Care in the Advancement of Perinatal Mental Health, presented by Lauren Jones-Davies, Uppala Chandrasekera and Karen Clarke. Please find the webinar recording below:

Primary health care is the locus for perinatal care across Canada. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the predominant perinatal medical complication, with a national average of 23%. This primary care issue disproportionately impacts Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), which has a 28% provincial average. Led by the Daymark Foundation, a collaboration comprised of government leadership, policymakers, health experts, and people with lived experience, is mobilizing to enhance perinatal mental health through primary care.  

Through the creation of a digital hub for service providers and users, and enhanced education and training for health practitioners, this initiative aims to reduce barriers to accessing care by facilitating timely access to perinatal mental health information and care along a stepped-care continuum. In partnership with local primary care clinics, this pilot is implementing routine screening, using the validated Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); educating health practitioners to identify needs early; facilitating referrals to community programs, including peer supports; and implementing the 2024 CANMAT Guidelines for PMADs. By co-creating and rigorously evaluating the model of care at local clinics, the goal of this project is to learn, refine, and scale provincially across all primary care sites in NL, and serve as a model for other provinces.  

Pilot evaluation results are expected in 2027, the presentation provided a project overview and the work to date.