Grateful mother says everyone should have access to the Archipel Postpartum Wellness Clinic

Launched in March 2022 as a pilot project, the Archipel Postpartum Wellness Clinic is a unique collaboration between Ottawa Public Health (OPH), two primary care providers from the Équipe santé familiale communautaire de l’est d’Ottawa and the Hôpital Montfort. Supported by the RNAO (Registered Nurse Association of Ontario), the aim is to provide timely access to care for patients who gave birth at Montfort and have signs and symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety but are without a primary care provider.

“At Montfort, we received a newborn and postmaternal information packet containing a flyer about the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program. So we registered, and every two weeks, the public health nurse came to our house. I really appreciated the support she gave me with the baby,” says Cynthia.

Motherhood is a life-changing experience. While it can bring daily doses of pure joy and amazement; it can also be overwhelming, challenging and very stressful.

“Our social life and activities revolve around kids—we don’t have a babysitter as we don’t really go out.” adds Cynthia. After being immersed at home with the baby and the toddler for a few months, Cynthia was stressed out and the nurse recommended to see someone at the Postpartum Clinic.

“Sometimes when the kids would not sleep, I would get anxious and angry—I experienced mom rage. And I felt I needed help in controlling negative thoughts.”

She first had an appointment with a family physician, who referred her to a psychiatrist, all taking place within a few weeks at Montfort. In the end, the psychiatrist’s assessment found that Cynthia had no serious mental health issues and did not need medication or further treatment.

Dr Nadine Ostiguy is one of the primary care practitioners serving the Clinique’s clients in Montfort: “All our patients with high depression scores have received quality care from Dr Giroux, a psychiatrist in Montfort. And none of them needed medication, because the validation process, the support provided and the continuity of follow-up with OPH enabled these mothers and their families to bounce back. The transition of life that is the experience of pregnancy and childbirth deserves attention in terms of how we support our mothers and their families in terms of connection and enable our communities to better support them too”.

“This clinic and their counselling services helped me move forward. I found myself again. They provided me with resources, and if I need help again, the same psychiatrist could see me directly. It’s reassuring to know that this is an option that I can count on. It’s been so helpful, I think that all mothers should have access to this program,” concludes Cynthia.

Top photo: The Archipel Postpartum Wellness Clinic team (from left to right) – 1) Sharlène Clarke, MHA & BPSO project lead at Archipel; 2) Ioana Negru, Nurse Practitioner at the Archipel Clinic; 3) Natalie Rozon, Nursing Project Officer at Ottawa Public Health (OPH); 4) Dr Nadine Ostiguy, primary care physician at the Archipel Clinic; 5) Camille Brunet, Advisor to the Professional Practice at Hôpital Montfort; 6) Louise Gilbert, Clinical Nurse Specialist at OPH; and 7) Josée Gauthier, Public Health Nurse at OPH.

*The name of the patient has been changed to protect her privacy.

More on the Archipel Wellness Postpartum Clinic

Another aim of the Archipel Wellness Postpartum Clinic is to reduce the stigma around post-partum depression. According to research, less than 15% of affected people seek help. Many state a lack of time for therapy or do not recognize their symptoms. There is also a fear of being perceived as poor parents by healthcare providers. (Canty et al., 2019; Fonesca et al., 2015; Stats Canada, 2019)

The new clinic brings a solution to a long-standing problem that had been identified by Ottawa Public Health – postpartum patients experiencing depression without a primary caregiver. “The collaboration we developed with the Hôpital Montfort, Archipel and RNAO makes such a positive difference for our staff and their clients. It can be difficult to admit that you may have postpartum depression to people you know and who know you, but it’s a different story when you must explain and advocate for yourself with a stranger. Having this solution and warm handoff helps to alleviate some of the stigma attached to perinatal mental health issues and more specifically postpartum depression,” explains Louise Gilbert, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Healthy Growth and Development, OPH.



Starting in the fall of 2023, the clinic will accept more patients by increasing flexibility in its eligibility criteria. Partners will begin working on a permanent pathway to improve access to postpartum wellness services.

About the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program (HBHC)

Offered by Ottawa Public Health, HBHC is a free and voluntary home visiting program that provides support to women and families during pregnancy, after the baby is born and as the child grows. For more information, visit Healthy Babies, Healthy Children.