In Canada, nearly 1 in 4 women and birthing people will experience some form of perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Yet, only 15% will be referred to appropriate treatment. Rates and outcomes are even worse in marginalized populations such as Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ people.

Poor perinatal mental health not only negatively impacts the mother, it is also the single greatest predictor of a child’s mental and physical health outcomes over their life course. If we care about the mental health of our population, then mothers (and all parents) are the place to start.

What makes perinatal mental health so unique as an issue is its preventability and treatability. Many cases of postpartum mental illness can be prevented through early intervention at the pregnancy stage. And, nearly all perinatal mental health issues can be treated—in the case of mild to moderate depression or anxiety, this can often be through low-cost, low-intensity interventions such as CBT and peer support.

An estimated 3% of people have bipolar disorder, yet it is the least researched illness among the top 10 causes of disability in the world. This weak evidence base has translated to a lack of effective treatment options to mitigate the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and a host of side effects that make existing treatment options less appealing. This contributes to a low overall quality of life for many people with bipolar disorder, characterized by fractured relationships, unstable employment, and poor day-to-day functioning. In fact, most people with bipolar disorder cite wellness and quality of life as their primary treatment goal.

There are several new research hypotheses that, if proven, will fundamentally change our understanding of bipolar disorder and offer the promise of more effective and appealing treatment options. There is also a growing cadre of stakeholders who are advancing more user-centred, patient-empowered approaches such as self management as a way to meaningfully improve quality of life. If we think outside the box, we can do better with and for people with bipolar disorder.