Grant: New Investigator Award-PA: Community-based Primary Health Care

Significance: Mental health problems are among the most common perinatal morbidities, with 1 in 4 Canadian pregnant and postpartum women affected. However, over 85% of pregnant and postpartum women do not receive needed mental healthcare. Mental health problems in these vulnerable women are therefore substantially under-diagnosed and under-treated. Furthermore, little is known about how poor maternal mental health affects child development and mental health. Research Plan: The Plan includes a series of linked studies that address 2 goals: 1) improve perinatal mental healthcare in primary care; 2) generate knowledge of how maternal mental health affects child development/mental health. The two foundation studies of the Plan are highly-ranked (1st, 4th) CIHR-funded trials that evaluate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of novel approaches to perinatal mental healthcare in primary care: 1) mental health e-screening in pregnant and postnatal women; and 2) integrated model of e-screening/electronic decision-making algorithm/online therapy in pregnant women. Impact: The new screening and treatment strategies for pregnant and postpartum women offer accessible, effective, low-cost, timely mental healthcare that can be widely implemented in primary care to improve maternal mental health and child outcomes. Track Record: Dr. Kingston is PI of 3 nationally- and 2 provincially-funded grants. She is primary author of 7 publications in impactful, multidisciplinary journals (incl. Pediatrics) and co-author on 11. She leads a multidisciplinary, multi-site research team with provincial, national, and international membership and collaborates with policy-makers and end-users. Her Plan is topically and methodologically distinct from former supervisors. Environment: Dr. Kingston is mentored by 4 internationally-known investigators. She has strong institutional support for scientific development and commitment to 75% protected time.