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Optimizing Maternal Mental Health Within A Primary Health Care Centre: A Model Program

Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
29 January 2009

Abstract

Depression is a common problem that affects approximately 10 to 15% of pregnant and postpartum women. Health care providers often fail to recognize depression in this population, and pregnant and postpartum women may be reluctant to seek help because of the stigma associated with mental illness. This article describes the Maternal Mental Health Program, an innovative, shared care program that brings together previously fragmented services and co-locates multidisciplinary clinicians within a primary care setting. This approach shows promise with respect to improving mental health outcomes; meeting the needs of women, health care students, and service providers; and increasing awareness of and access to specialized mental health care.

Résumé

De 10 % à 15 % des femmes souffrent de dépression pendant une grossesse ou après l'accouchement; c'est donc un problème courant. Souvent, les personnes soignantes en santé mentale n'arrivent pas à diagnostiquer la dépression au sein cette population, et les femmes qui en sont atteintes sont parfois réticentes à aller chercher de l'aide, à cause des « stigmates » qui sont encore associés aujourd'hui aux problèmes de santé mentale. Dans cet article, nous présentons le Maternal Mental Health Program (Programme de santé mentale maternelle, Saskatoon), un programme novateur de soins partagés qui a permis de regrouper des services auparavant dispersés et de réunir des professionnels de diverses disciplines dans un même cadre à l'étape des soins primaires. Les résultats obtenus sont prometteurs à plusieurs niveaux: amélioration de l'état de santé mentale des patientes; réponse aux besoins des femmes, des étudiants en santé mentale et des personnes soignantes; accroissement de la sensibilisation et de l'accès à des soins spécialisés en santé mentale.

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Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 27Number 2September 2008
Pages: 105 - 116

History

Version of record online: 29 January 2009

Authors

Affiliations

Angela Bowen
College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Marilyn Baetz
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Nora Mckee
Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Nancy Klebaum
Manager of Nursing, Saskatoon Health Region and the Maternal Mental Health Program

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