Grant: Project Grant

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 1 in 5 mothers and can have profound effects on both mothers and their families. Even though the cost of one untreated case of PPD is estimated to exceed $150,000, just 10% of women receive evidence-based care. Access to PPD treatment has not only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, but women's concerns about exposing themselves and their infants to the virus has profoundly affect their preferences around securing care for their mental health needs in both the short- and long-term. At present time, the healthcare system is not well-equipped to deal with common, time-sensitive conditions like PPD that require talking therapy. Innovative new approaches to providing safe and acceptable treatments to mothers struggling with PPD are urgently needed. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an Online 9-Week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT; a type of talking therapy) program delivered by women who have recovered from PPD. We will randomize 224 women with current PPD to receive Online Peer-Delivered CBT plus treatment as usual from their other care providers (treatment group) or treatment as usual alone (control group). We will compare how effective Online Peer-Delivered CBT is at improving maternal depression and anxiety, social isolation, parenting stress, mother-infant attachment, and offspring behaviour immediately after treatment, and three and six months later. We will also assess its cost-effectiveness. It is vitally important that we help overcome the barriers that keep mothers with PPD from receiving treatment. Given the large supply of potential peer therapists, women's desire to help other mothes, and evidence that peers may be able to deliver talking treatments as effectively as trained professionals, task-shifting the treatment of PPD online and from professionals to trained peers offers a potentially safe, effective, appealing, and cost-effective way to improve PPD in Canada and globally.