Grant: Catalyst Grant : Maternal Health: From Pre-Conception to the Empty Nest

This research focuses on the mental health of mothers with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who are involved with youth protection services (YPS). BPD is a serious mental illness that can interfere with parenting and put children at risk for maltreatment. There has been little research on the presence of BPD among mothers involved in YPS and on services offered to and used by these mothers. It is important that this disorder be recognized and addressed by YPS workers to encourage greater concordance between mothers' needs and psychosocial/health services. In particular, a heightened awareness of mothers' needs would foster the use of appropriate treatments that simultaneously address maternal BPD and parenting concerns. To meet these goals, a detailed and precise assessment of the extent of BPD among mothers involved with YPS will be conducted. The present study will survey YPS workers, review 300 files and interview 120 mothers to assess for the presence of BPD. It will also be determined whether mothers who have a borderline personality disorder are offered appropriate services and if these services correspond to their perceived needs.Thirty mothers with BPD will be interviewed and asked to describe their current and past use of psychosocial/health services and identify what they perceive as barriers and facilitators of such use. This project addresses a significant gap in the research literature on mothers with BPD, and would impact maternal health and service delivery for a vulnerable population. This research will shed light on whether this population is being recognized in YPS and whether mothers are receiving appropriate interventions, highlighting the importance of assessment and adequate management of BPD within YPS. Appropriate treatments and interventions have the potential to improve mother's mental health and well-being and, consequently, the health and well-being of their children.