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House Hansard - 281

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 13, 2024 10:00AM
  • Feb/13/24 2:04:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about perinatal mental health. The perinatal period begins at conception and ends a year after childbirth. Twenty per cent of women will experience depression during this period. Children of perinatally depressed mothers are at increased risk of anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism. Longitudinal studies have found a 70% increase in the odds of depression among adolescent and adult offspring of mothers who had perinatal depression. In 2022, more than five million Canadians 15 and up met the diagnostic criteria for a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. Imagine how much lower this number would be if we could ensure timely access to perinatal mental health services. I am proud to be part of a government that began the work last year by investing $857,000 to develop national clinician guidelines for perinatal mood disorders, and I look forward to seeing what more we can do.
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  • Feb/13/24 3:03:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we know that sexual and reproductive health care encompasses mental health care, which is always important, but especially so for women during their reproductive lives. Knowing what an exciting, but also stressful, time it can be for a new mother and how a mother's well-being affects not only her but also her newborn and other family members, could the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health explain how our government is supporting women who choose motherhood by addressing perinatal mental health?
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  • Feb/13/24 3:04:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we all know the member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill to be a strong advocate for women's health. My message to new parents who might be struggling is this: They do not have to carry this burden alone. I want to thank the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative and all of our partners working to develop national standards for a perinatal mental health strategy. We are supporting families by creating guidance materials and advice for health care professionals and individuals who may face poor mental health during the perinatal period. We are with them and will do everything we can to ensure families have access to quality mental health care when they need it and where they need it.
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