Cowichan Valley

The Perinatal Psychiatry program provides virtual or telephone assessment, medication review, short term counselling, referrals, and follow-up for persons who are pregnant or early parenting and who are experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety, mood symptoms, trauma and related disorders and psychosis with or without concurrent substance use. The Perinatal Mental Health Program is comprised of an interdisciplinary team including psychiatrists, who work together to provide service to women, over the age of 18, experiencing a psychiatric condition while pregnant and/or early parenting. This service is provided on a short-term basis, with follow-up within the first year post partum, as indicated

Services Included

• Intake, triage, referrals, psychiatric assessment and follow-up
• Preconception consultation and counselling
• Liaison with hospital both prenatal and postpartum
• Liaison, collaboration and consultation with Primary Care Providers
• Assessment of safety issues and risk for parent and child
• Psychotherapeutic interventions including Single Session Therapy, counselling, Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) and transitional support for clients between services

Who is Eligible

• Women 18 years or older who are pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum at the time of the referral and experiencing a psychiatric condition.
• Women must be referred by a primary care provider or a specialist physician to ensure there is adequate follow-up after discharge