The Minister responsible for Social Services Lionel Carmant presented this Wednesday a new online platform from the Quebec government aimed at improving the mental health of parents during a press conference held at CHU Sainte-Justine. “[It’s a] tool for all new parents, to better accompany and support them,” declared the minister.
The website called Toi, Moi, Bébé will allow mothers and health professionals to consult information on “perinatal mental health”. This self-care program, “confidential and accessible now,” aims to prepare mothers for the psychological challenges of the arrival of a new child in their lives. It is presented in the form of different modules to complete, a bit like an online training program.
“Mental health problems are […] one of the most frequent complications in the perinatal context,” recalled Isabelle Demers, CEO of CHU Sainte-Justine, present at the press conference. However, “most mothers suffering from these issues […] are afraid to go to our services,” admitted his counterpart, CEO of the CIUSS de l’Est-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Jean-François Verreault. You, me, baby will serve as a complement to preventive mental health care and will make information on the subject more accessible and known.
The content of the site was created by a clinical team and another research team from CHU Sainte-Justine, in partnership with a team from the CIUSS de l’Est-de-l’île-de-Montréal. This is an adaptation of a Californian platform.
Marie-Michelle, nurse and mother of three children, tested the site as a user after the birth of her child. Unlike her first pregnancy, where she suffered from postpartum depression, she was able to “[make] peace with parenthood and its challenges,” since she had “plenty of tools that were there [for her]. ‘help] “.
