Mothering Minds: Unveiling the Truths of Perinatal Mental Health
Coming at you this week with the alarming realities of perinatal mental health—a topic that hits close to home for many of us. Did you know that since 2021, the first Wednesday of May has been dedicated to raising awareness about maternal mental health? It's a crucial time to spotlight the support moms desperately need due to the intense hormone fluctuations that come with baby-growing and post-baby phases. Trust us, it’s rough!
Today, we're unpacking the real-life scaries and statistics surrounding mental health challenges that new mothers have faced for ages. We're thrilled to have a special guest and specialist in perinatal mental health to help us understand the severity of these issues and what we can do about it.
So, what's going on with moms' mental health during the perinatal period? Well, it's pretty daunting. A staggering 75% of women meet the criteria for depressive and anxiety disorders during this time but remain undiagnosed, and a mere 10% of those in need actually receive proper mental health care.
Why is this happening? From societal expectations and stigma to a sheer lack of awareness, numerous barriers are preventing new moms from accessing the support they need. These include long wait times for mental health services, cultural and linguistic hurdles, financial constraints, and inadequate screening by healthcare providers.
In today’s episode, we also highlight the prevalence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), characterized by anything from mild to severe distress during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. The risk factors? They're all too common: previous mental health issues, low marital satisfaction, intimate partner violence, lack of social support, and isolation.
And the impact? It's significant. Severe PMADs can impair a mother's ability to care for her infant and herself, affecting the child's future social, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes.
But there's hope! We chat with Lin Carr from the Regina Early Learning Centre’s Perinatal Health Network, who shared insights from her personal and professional journey. Lin discusses the importance of community resources and social support to ensure no parent feels isolated during this challenging time.
So, what can we do to help? First, recognizing the symptoms and understanding the importance of timely care is crucial. Whether it’s through seeking professional help, reaching out to community support networks, or simply extending patience and grace to those affected, every little bit helps.
Donations for the Regina Perinatal Health Network can be made online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/regina-early-learning-centre-inc/. On that page, you can select Regina Perinatal Health Network from the program drop-down menu.
Build A Village: https://www.instagram.com/buildavillageyqr/ This is the Non-profit branch of Village Mamas YQR that offers financial subsidies for Village Mamas postpartum paid support services like child care, home services, etc. https://www.instagram.com/villagemamasyqr/
I Love You More Wellness Centre: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558242434268 This non-profit will open in the summer of 2024!
Mother May I: https://www.mothermayi.ca/. This non-profit in Saskatoon offers in-person and virtual peer support groups and promotes other maternal mental health resources and community drop-in programming for parents.
Together, we can challenge the stigma and push for better support systems for maternal mental health. Because, let's face it, nothing is scarier than feeling alone during one of life's most vulnerable stages.
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Resources:
https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/how-women-are-shaping-the-future-of-business
https://www.ief-fie.ca/2023/06/16/2023-women-entrepreneur-round-table-report/
https://www.canadianperinatalmentalhealthtrainings.com
https://skmaternalmentalhealth.ca/
https://momsandkidssask.saskhealthauthority.ca/pregnancy-birth-newborns/
https://skprevention.ca/mental-health/maternal-mental-health/
https://cpmhc.ca/publications-2/
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