Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Women living in Northwestern Ontario (NWO) face many unique barriers in accessing healthcare when compared to those living outside of the North. Peri- and Postpartum depression affects women almost twice as much as men, suicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women, and hospitalizations for mental health and self-injury in NWO are double the national rate. Yet, There is still a significant gap in access to maternal care and mental health services in NWO. This study will address this gap by exploring the suitability of an eHealth intervention for mothers with peri- and postnatal depression. Therapist-Assisted Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TA-ICBT) is an eHealth tool that can be used as a mobile 'app' to match patients with trained therapists, provide online self-management videos, and recommend services to best meet patients' needs. Because TA-ICBT can be delivered remotely, it has the potential to overcome many of the common barriers faced by women in the North. Twenty interviews and four focus groups will be conducted in order to understand what physicians, nurses, and other care providers perceive as key barriers and enablers to using a TA-ICBT app in NWO. This information will be used to adapt the app to best serve our target population. This research will be overseen by an interdisciplinary team of women who have been collecting data on the maternal health in NWO over the past five years. The aim of this study is to inform the future design, development, and delivery of a new TA-ICBT app for women in NWO. This research will be a foundation from which a new healthcare option can be developed to meet the specific needs of women in NWO, and will help close the Northern gap in maternal mental health services.