About Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative
What is the CPMHC ?
The CPMHC is a non-profit organization with a mission is to improve and advance perinatal mental health in Canada. We envision that all individuals and families are able to access the services they need to experience a mentally healthy perinatal period. Please see our Strategic Plan for more info.
#NowMoreThanEver
Our #NowMoreThanEver campaign was one of our first campaigns where we asked people to send in a video sharing why they believe Canada needs a national perinatal mental health strategy. In addition to people with lived experience, we also received videos from city mayors, provincial and federal politicians, actors Juno Rinaldi, Sarah McVie, and Jessica Holmes.
This campaign took place two months into the pandemic and culminated on World Maternal Mental Health Day in 2020.
Our #NowMoreThanEver
Please watch our video compilation for our #NowMoreThanEver campaign featuring moms, mayors, provincial and federal politicians, actors (Juno Rinaldi, Sarah McVie, Jessica Holmes), all sharing why they believe Canada needs a national perinatal mental health strategy.
Welcome to the official site for the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative! We are working towards getting a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy that will leave no one behind. We want nothing less than universal screening and timely access to treatment for individuals that need it across Canada during the preconception, pregnancy and the postpartum periods. Our goal is that by 2032, federal, provincial, and territorial governments will have passed and implemented appropriately funded policies and legislation that are providing people timely access to perinatal mental health services thereby substantially reducing perinatal mental illness in Canada. To learn more, please see our Strategic Plan.
Perinatal refers to the time period from conception to one year postpartum.
Perinatal mental illness refers to prenatal and/or postpartum – depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
- Some of the consequences of untreated perinatal mental illness include: chronic depression; impaired parental-infant attachment; impaired cognitive/psychosocial development for the child; and maternal suicide or infanticide.
- In 2019, Statistics Canada released an infographic with results from its Survey on Maternal Health, which showed that 23% of mothers in Canada reported feelings consistent with postpartum depression or an anxiety disorder.
- Rates during the COVID-19 global pandemic doubled.
- Rates are even higher for 2SLGBTQIA+, Black and Indigenous individuals and people of colour.
- Suicide is the 4th leading case of maternal death in Canada.
- The health and wellbeing of individuals and families impacts every community in Canada.
- Perinatal mental illness is highly preventable and treatable.
- Our 2021 survey found that 95% of health care providers believe current perinatal mental health services are insufficient in Canada.
- Unlike the UK, Australia, and the US, Canada does not have a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy.
- A National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy created in consultation with Canadians and provincial and territorial governments would ensure individuals and families receive treatment in a timely manner.
Work With Us
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities in the following areas:
- Fundraising
- Grant Writing
- Events Planning
- Communications
- Social Media
Please send a cover letter and resume to canpmhc@gmail.com