Mothers’ Mental Health Toolkit

A Resource for the CommunityPublic Health Agency of Canada – National Projects Fund

Agenda for today• Welcome and Introductions• Activity #1• Introduction to the Toolkit• What’s inside and chapters of this Toolkit• Lunch• Practice using the Toolkit with Case Scenarios• Activity #2• Video• Closing and Goodbye’s

Introductions

• Please tell us your name and where you work.

• Share what inspires you in your interactions with the clients you work with.

A Look at Mental Illness…

If you are experiencing an ear ache…

– What might your symptoms be?– Who might you tell?– When might you seek help?

If you are experiencing depression…

– What might your symptoms be?– Who might you tell?– When might you seek help?

Mental Health Issues• Mental illness is a mental/behavioral pattern

or anomaly that causes either suffering or an impaired ability to function.

• Biological, Psychological and Social factors contribute to mental illness.

• Mental health can be seen on a continuum:Healthy Reacting Injured Illness

Maternal Mental Health Problems• Mental Health Diagnosis Pre-Pregnancy• New Mental Health Problem During Pregnancy or First Year After Birth

• Severe Adjustment Difficulties• Personality Disorders• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Spectrum• Concurrent Addictions• Attachment Disturbances• Complex Case/High Risk Contributors• Disorders listed and defined in theToolkit (pg 122-130)

Mothers’ Mental Health Toolkit

• Public resource for community service providers and families for education, advocacy, and treatment support for mothers with mental health problems.

• Developed by Dr. Joanne MacDonald (Psychiatrist, Project Lead) and Colleen Flynn , MSW RSW (Clinical Therapist, Content Lead) of Reproductive Mental Health Service, IWK Health Services in Halifax, Nova Scotia• Revised and training developed for CAPC and CPNP programs through funding from National Projects Fund by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Toolkit Project Values:

• Health Promoting• Mental Health Literacy• Community Informed• Family Centered• Strengths Based• Support Enhancing• Knowledge Sharing• Collaborative Care & Intervention

What makes a women vulnerable for Maternal Mental Health

Problems

Vulnerability & Risk Determinants• Poverty• Low level of support / isolation• Family conflict/disruption• Trauma• Poor Housing• Transportation limitations• Education deficits• Unemployment• Previous Mental Health Problems• Family History of Mental Illness/Addictions

Promoting Mothers’ Mental Health• Well Mother• Healthy Child• Strong Community

Mother’s Mental Health is critical to Infant Attachment and Development

Infant Attachment & Development Contributes to Risk of Child Mental

Illness and Behaviour Problems

Mothers’ Mental Health Toolkit

What’s Inside?• Maternal Mental Health Education for

Community Service Providers (long sidebars)

• Worksheets for Use with Mothers (short sidebars)

• Wellness to Illness Recognition

• Resources for Mothers and their Caregivers

What isn’t in the toolkit?

• Depth of Diversity Applications

• Cultural Specificity

• Mental Health Treatment or Intervention

• Limited Rural/Remote Tools

• Languages Other than English/French

• Replacements for

Mental Health Services

Chapters of the Toolkit

• Ch. 1 Mothers’ Wellness and Self-Care• Ch. 2 The Mothering Role• Ch. 3 Understanding Mother’s Mental Health• Ch. 4 Assessment and Screening• Ch. 5 Intervention and Treatments• Ch. 6 Supporting Recovery• Ch. 7 Community Action

Chapter 1 – Mothers’ Wellness and Self Care

The toolkit begins with a chapter on wellness that was designed for use by the mother.

Topics in this chapter include:• Body Health

– Nutrition, fitness and sleep

• Mental Health– Relaxation and stress management

• Emotional Health– Substance use and Self Development

Examples of WorksheetsSelf-Care Checklist Food and Feelings DiaryYour Body Health is Important My Exercise Ideas

Worksheets and Information sheets on Stress Management and Relaxation Practices

Exploring My Substance Use Balancing Needs and Saving Energy Substance Use Checklist What Kind of Person Can I Become

More Worksheets for Mothers

Chapter 2 – The Mothering Role

Chapter 2 looks at the changes a women might feel becoming a new mother and her support system.

Topics in this chapter include:• Definitions/realities of motherhood• Attachment development• Building social supports• Emotional coping strategies• Relationship health• Parenting

Examples of Worksheets The Many Hats of Motherhood Connections That CountCommon Thoughts About Motherhood Your Partner Relationship Helping Ourselves to Calm and Relax It Takes a Village (Living with Parents)

Examples of Information Sheets Attachment Development Tiny Baby, Big Changes Building a Strong Bond with Your Baby Strategies for Positive Communication Emotional Coping Strategies Parenting Through Depression

Examples of Checklists and Tips Do What Helps Us Parent Top 10 Tips for a Partner / Co-Parent Tips for Helping: Providing Support to a Vulnerable Mother Child Outcomes: How Do You Know Your Child has Good Mental Health

Chapter 3 – Understanding Mothers’ Mental Health

Chapter 3 considers the Dimensions of Health and Wellness in body, thoughts and feelings. This chapter has more sections dedicated to the service provider than in previous chapters and begins to look at mental illness including:

• Causes and Contributions• Signs and Symptoms

• Diagnostic Possibilities

Information sheets for service providers including: Mental Health, Family Violence, Risk Factors for

Illness, and Determinants of Progress or Outcome.

Worksheets for mothers including: Abuse and Safety Planning, Power and Control Wheels, and Risk Factors for

Pregnancy or Postpartum Mental Health Problems.

Causes and Contributions, Signs and Symptoms, and Diagnostic Possibilities

{Note: The information given is not to be used to diagnose clients.}

Chapter 4 – Assessment and Screening

Chapter 4 has information on Developing Cultural Awareness and Competency and tips for working with Newcomers. You will also find:

• Perinatal Mental Health Assessment• Postpartum checklist• Edinburgh Postnatal

Depression Scale

Chapter 5 – Intervention and Treatments

Chapter 5 is dedicated to the service provider and offers information on General Interventions, Therapy Principles, and Medications.

{This information is not meant to replace medical interventions; it is given to assist supporting service providers with knowledge.}

Increased knowledge among service providers of mental health issues, diagnoses, and treatments helps to reduce stigma and encourage women toward valuing their wellness and seeking

recovery from illness.

Chapter 6 – Supporting Recovery

This chapter has many worksheets for the mother that can assist her in moving forward with goal planning and healthy thinking.

In addition to these worksheets, this chapter offers: Connecting to Mental Health Services Involvement with the Department of Community Services If Your Children Have Been Taken Out of Your Care

Chapter 7 – Community ActionChapter 7 was designed for the Service Provider with a list of ideas and suggestions for collaborative mental health care as well as examples of

initiatives underway already working well.

Importance of Front Line Staff Learning about Mental Illness

Mental Health For All, By All

Now let’s see what the Toolkit has for you…

• Break into small groups• Review the case study• Answer the questions together as a group• Share what your group discussed witheveryone else

Case Study #1 - Samira

1. Provide a brief description of the mother, history, problems (whatever you want to bring out).

2. What are some possible challenges/issues that she might be facing?

3. What would you like to know more about working with this mother?

4. What could be the role for you or your organization in the mental health of this mother?

5. How might you use the Toolkit Resource with this mom?

Case Study #2 - Julie

1. Provide a brief description of the mother, history, problems (whatever you want to bring out).

2. What are some possible challenges/issues that she might be facing?

3. What would you like to know more about working with this mother?

4. What could be the role for you or your organization in the mental health of this mother?

5. How might you use the Toolkit Resource with this mom?

Case Study #3 - Kerry

1. Provide a brief description of the mother, history, problems (whatever you want to bring out).

2. What are some possible challenges/issues that she might be facing?

3. What would you like to know more about working with this mother?

4. What could be the role for you or your organization in the mental health of this mother?

5. How might you use the Toolkit Resource with this mom?

Think of a secret that you have…

The Real World We Live In

Closing and Goodbye• Go around the room and say what your

thoughts are on the toolkit.• What did you like about it most?• Do you have any questions?• Evaluations on the table, please fill one out.