Toronto – Welcoming a new baby is a major life transition – one that can be both physically taxing and psychologically taxing. It is normal to feel a range of emotions, from joy and excitement to anxiety to sadness.
Mental health issues can happen in pregnancy and postpartum. One in five people will experience a perinatal mood, anxiety, and related disorders with many reluctant to speak out due to shame or fear. Perinatal mood disorders are treatable, but if left unaddressed, can affect the health and well-being of parents, their children and their families. By seeking help early, you can better manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being.
Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, alongside Dr. Simone Vigod, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital, and Dr. Benicio Frey, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, highlighted the publication of the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
As a first of its kind, the guidelines specifically focus on the diagnosis and treatment of mood, anxiety, and related disorders during pregnancy, postpartum and the first year after childbirth. It will support clinicians in improving early identification and providing treatment recommendations.
Resources include, “Seeds of Hope: A Patient and Family Guide,” to equip and empower individuals and their support systems with accessible and practical information about perinatal mental health.
Together, these resources can help new and expectant parents better understand their symptoms and treatment options and make informed decisions about their care with their healthcare providers.
These guidelines aim to serve as a valuable tool for clinicians in Canada and around the world to bolster perinatal mental health.
The publication of these guidelines recognize the Government of Canada’s commitment to make perinatal mental health services more accessible.
“Welcoming a baby is lifechanging, and coping with change can be hard. Getting help is the most important thing a parent can do for themselves and their family. The resources published today will empower healthcare providers and their patients to make informed, evidence-based decisions about how to effectively manage and treat perinatal mood disorders, in ways that promote well-being and are safe for the parent and baby. I encourage provincial and territorial partners to consider adopting these guidelines so that individuals get high-quality mental health support during the perinatal period, and beyond, no matter where they live.” – Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health