St. John's-based clinic breaking down barriers for new parents

A St. John's psychiatrist says new mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling, so she's launched a virtual clinic that will help them access the care they need.

According to Dr. Archana Vidyasankar, 28 per cent of women in this province experience perinatal mood and anxiety problems — some of the highest rates in Canada.

"What people need isn't always acute medical care or psychiatry," she said.

Instead, Prakash Pathways will coordinate people with specific practitioners who specialize in different areas that contribute to perinatal stress and anxiety.

Whether they're looking for advice on what to expect during pregnancy, labour/delivery and postpartum, or if they're struggling with the difficulties of nursing and sleep deprivation, new parents will be able to access support at the click of a button from anywhere in the province.

"The idea behind the whole thing is that you don't have to search 10 different web sites to find what you need," said Vidyasankar.

The site can connect parents who need support with anything from couples counseling to lactation and sleep support, with the goal of reducing barriers and providing accessible care.

"A lot of times the followup gets missed after delivery," said Vidyasankar. "The focus is on baby for so long… and then all of a sudden, you go home and have to figure it out all by yourself. We realized there needs to be a better way of navigating the system, so why not put it all together?"

Vidyasankar has been practicing perinatal psychiatry in St. John's for four years. During that time, she's seen how counseling and therapy can play a huge role in a new parent's recovery and transition.

Vidyasankar says 28% of women in Newfoundland and Labrador experience perinatal mood and anxiety problems — some of the highest rates in Canada. (Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)

You don't need a doctor's referral to make an appointment with Prakash Pathways. The services are not covered by MCP, but some of them may be covered through your own medical insurance.

"This is a collection of what we would call allied health counselors, therapists, practitioners. People can ... book right in [themselves]. They can choose the availability, the practitioner they want, the time that they want."

For those who aren't quite sure what kind of support they need, they can book an online assessment to figure out where they need to go.

"Sometimes we're not sure in the thick of it all … we're sleep deprived and have difficulty leaving the house with all the things. It's hard to know what your needs are."

The clinic launched Monday, and Vidyasankar said there's already been a lot of interest — about 600 visitors to the site on its first day.

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