Avoiding Reinvention of the Wheel: Support for Postpartum Mood Disorders Veli-Martti Rautio MPH, CK, HBK Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit

What Exactly Is This About? The importance of networking, finding interested service providers, and bringing everyone together to avoid “Reinvention of the Wheel” in order to provide Facilitated and Peer Support to Women with Postpartum Mood Disorders in Hastings & Prince Edward Counties.

A Little Background Previously worked in Hospital Previously worked in Hospital TBRHSC Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit TBRHSC Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit Completed MPH in May 2004 Completed MPH in May 2004 …to get out of the hospital environment! …to get out of the hospital environment! I started my position in June 2005 I started my position in June 2005 Responsible for 3 Areas Responsible for 3 Areas

Embracing Adversity! I was the third individual in this position in 3 years I was the third individual in this position in 3 years Difficult to maintain consistency of program development Difficult to maintain consistency of program development Frustration of working group members Frustration of working group members Loss of interest with no attendance in one of the groups Loss of interest with no attendance in one of the groups I was also new to the region- another small problem for my own establishment! I was also new to the region- another small problem for my own establishment!

What to do? NETWORK! Community Health Shows! Community Health Shows! Seminars Seminars Conferences Conferences Find VIPs* in the area Find VIPs* in the area *Very Influential People *Very Influential People *Very Interested People *Very Interested People *Very Informative People *Very Informative People

The Result? Health shows, seminars, conferences Health shows, seminars, conferences Met people working within similar areas of concern from all 3 issues Met people working within similar areas of concern from all 3 issues Met other individuals (although not directly involved in same areas as me) Met other individuals (although not directly involved in same areas as me) Key contacts were made for future projects (M.D.A.O. and O.S.P.) Key contacts were made for future projects (M.D.A.O. and O.S.P.)

Who is Involved (so far)... Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit Ontario Early Years Centre and Family Space Ontario Early Years Centre and Family Space Mental Health Services Hastings and Prince Edward Mental Health Services Hastings and Prince Edward Centre for Addictions and Mental Health-Trenton Office Centre for Addictions and Mental Health-Trenton Office Prince Edward Children’s Aid Society Prince Edward Children’s Aid Society Prince Edward Child Care Services Prince Edward Child Care Services Mental Health Support Services Hastings & Prince Edward Corp. Mental Health Support Services Hastings & Prince Edward Corp. Quinte Health Care Quinte Health Care

Community Partners are the most important piece of the puzzle!!!

Right after the people we are trying to help! Right after the people we are trying to help!

Challenges! Planning Planning Meetings...meetings...meetings... Meetings...meetings...meetings... Consensus Consensus How do you get everyone on board? How do you get everyone on board? Gaining Trust Gaining Trust Ensuring everyone takes ownership, contributes, and is recognised Ensuring everyone takes ownership, contributes, and is recognised

Planning: Logic Behind Logic Models Gives you target dates Gives you target dates Especially when you have a lot of mini-projects Especially when you have a lot of mini-projects Keep you on track Keep you on track You need to know what track your on first! You need to know what track your on first! Plan for the whole year in advance Plan for the whole year in advance Increase chances to keep meeting dates Increase chances to keep meeting dates

Consensus: Keep Everyone Happy? Requires compromise Requires compromise Create an environment where everyone sees some benefit Create an environment where everyone sees some benefit Everyone feels a part of the solution even if all their problems are not solved Everyone feels a part of the solution even if all their problems are not solved The need to lead The need to lead

Gaining Trust People can be reluctant to contribute: People can be reluctant to contribute: If they are not being heard If they are not being heard If they feel left out If they feel left out If they feel abandoned If they feel abandoned If they are not seeing progress If they are not seeing progress

Additional Funding Unsuccessful at securing funding through Trillium Foundation Unsuccessful at securing funding through Trillium Foundation Reviewing shortfalls of application Reviewing shortfalls of application Reapply in next round for more specific needs Reapply in next round for more specific needs Partnering with new member of working group to facilitate peer support network. Partnering with new member of working group to facilitate peer support network.

Successes!!! Contact with C.G.M.H.A.S. Contact with C.G.M.H.A.S. Centralised Intake Line for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Centralised Intake Line for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Partnering with M.H.S.S. HPE Corp. Partnering with M.H.S.S. HPE Corp. 5 Regional offices to host and assist in developing peer support groups 5 Regional offices to host and assist in developing peer support groups Our Sister’s Place and Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Our Sister’s Place and Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Professional development of individuals working with PMD peer support group Professional development of individuals working with PMD peer support group

Project Sustainability The project to begin as peer-support for women with postpartum mood disorders The project to begin as peer-support for women with postpartum mood disorders If there are leaders in the group from the treatment field, they must be peers as well If there are leaders in the group from the treatment field, they must be peers as well Continuous marketing and active partner participation will be essential to the continuing success of the project Continuous marketing and active partner participation will be essential to the continuing success of the project

Opportunity Potential Pilot Project Participant Potential Pilot Project Participant Dr. C-L. Dennis, U of T Nursing Dr. C-L. Dennis, U of T Nursing Evaluate the effect of telephone- based interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) on the treatment of postpartum depression Evaluate the effect of telephone- based interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) on the treatment of postpartum depression

What Have I Learned? The need to utilise existing services is absolute in order to use community resources most efficiently. This also may help with securing additional funding The need to utilise existing services is absolute in order to use community resources most efficiently. This also may help with securing additional funding Working groups need to meet regularly Working groups need to meet regularly You need people who are well established and know a LOT of other influential people You need people who are well established and know a LOT of other influential people Having 3 different people in a key position in three years is counter productive Having 3 different people in a key position in three years is counter productive

Questions?

Thank You Very Much Thank You Very Much United We Can fly...