Now, just-published Canadian research suggests the strain on new mothers in particular has translated into more postpartum individuals seeking mental health support after giving birth. They looked at demographic data and mental health visits for more than 137,000 people in Ontario during the postpartum period from March through November 2020. During the pandemic, as many regions went into lockdowns, the usual support networks for families were often disrupted, and previous surveys have suggested that lack of support took a toll on parent's mental health. The cost of mental health services themselves can also be a major barrier, Vigod noted. "We chose to have our baby," she said, "but it doesn't mean we chose to have all the mental health stuff that goes with it."

Source: CBC News June 07, 2021 08:00 UTC