Sudbury mom supporting others through Facebook group
Mercedes Clouthier said she started the group Sudbury Mom Hangouts on Facebook so she could meet and connect with other mothers.
What started out as a group of 20 people has now grown to over 500 members.
Clouthier is a mother of two. Her stepdaughter Lexi is four and she had her son, Max, 8 months ago. Having a child during a pandemic has been anything but easy.
"Everybody expects you to be happy and so blessed because you have babies because not all women get to experience that, but they don’t realize in reality that many women are in a discouraging place and they don’t know where or who to turn to and that is why the group was created," Clouthier said.
A study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found mental health visits by new mothers in Ontario increased 30 per cent during the pandemic compared to previous years, with a noticeable bump occurring within the first three months after giving birth. Clouthier said she isn’t surprised at all by those numbers and it’s a topic that is not talked about enough.
According to the study, postpartum mental illness affects as many as one in five mothers and it said during the pandemic, people have had difficulty accessing extended postpartum support networks and community programs that protect against mental illness including:
- home visits from public health nurses
- breastfeeding clinics
- support groups
Officials at the hospital in Sudbury want the community to know that the perinatal mental health program remains open and available.
"The Perinatal Mental Health Program at Health Sciences North (HSN) provides mental health services for new mothers experiencing depression and anxiety from 28-weeks of pregnancy up to 12 months after the baby is born. There have been 84 referrals to this program in 2020/2021 compared with 74 in 2019/2020. Mothers can self-refer to this program or can be referred through their family doctor, midwife, obstetrician, or from a community agency or mental health professional. New mothers can also access external support programs in the community through Public Health Sudbury and Districts, the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and NISA, the Northern Initiative for Social Action," said Jason Turnbull, communications manager at HSN.
The CMAJ study looked at 137,609 postpartum mental health visits to both family physicians and psychiatrists in Ontario from March through November 2020, with researchers collecting data on age, the number of children, neighbourhood income and ethnic diversity, and region of residence.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.