An Environmental Scan of Perinatal Mental Health Infrastructure Across Canada

Developing consensus to enhance perinatal mental health through a model of integrated care: Delphi study

“…Qualitative findings from our study extend these findings and indicate the need for centralized processes to support care coordination, referrals, and education. Indeed, adopting a national strategy to provide a coordinated approach to PMH care holds the potential to harmonize screening practices and care standards across provinces and territories, while also enhancing integration and access to care through centralized funding and resource allocation [ 20 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…As such, PMH services remain uncoordinated, with access often determined by ‘postal code lottery’, with those from urban, affluent, and well-resourced communities faring better than those from historically marginalized communities [ 20 , 22 ]. Because available services are often narrow in focus and ignore the broader social determinants of health—such as income and housing—pathways to screening, treatment, and follow-up tend to be unclear and difficult to navigate [ 20 , 23 ]. In the existing system, white, higher-income women with mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety often have better access to care and resources [ 22 ].…”

“…Each province/territory is responsible for structuring and maintaining a system of health care for its residents. Although BC is recognized as a Canadian leader in advancing PMH care [ 23 ], services remain siloed and there are barriers to care that include inadequate screening, uneven resource distribution, and long wait times [ 31 ]. There is an urgent need for research to inform new models of care to enhance integration of existing services.…”