Exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on service provider habits and knowledge, and parental experiences with postpartum mood and anxiety disorders

  • Shannon is a second year student in the Social Service Worker Program at Canadore College where she recently completed her placement at the Research Centre. Shannon’s lived experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) has helped drive her interest in the services available for those experiencing PMAD, as well as the barriers, gaps, and issues that exist when attempting to access these services. She seeks to become well-informed on the mental health needs of her community so that she may continue to work towards creating positive and lasting change in mental health services. 

Shannon Coyle, a student of Canadore College, will be focusing on exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on service provider habits and knowledge, and parental experiences with postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). 

In this project, Shannon will use a survey methodology to work with one group of practitioners and clinicians to understand the gaps in services, given the high turnover in professionals. She will also be conducting a survey on the experiences of expecting parents, new parents, and those within these communities with services, access, and providers. This survey will be comprised of both quantitative- and qualitative-based questions to best capture the experiences and narratives of mothers and fathers during the pandemic. 

The survey responses will aid in creating a workplan informed by the data and help inform the table of the pathways existing for PMAD services, as well as the barriers for accessing treatments. Additionally, it will help identify the gaps that exist within the districts for issues such as screening, diagnosis, services, and follow-up. 

This project is co-funded in partnership with Mitacs and the Knowledge Institute for Child & Youth Mental Health and Addictions.