Proactive, Personalized Postpartum Mental Healthcare

This pilot randomized trial seeks to determine the usability and perceived value of a primary care-based eHealth application that: (1) uses a validated tool (EPDS), to identify and monitor depression and anxiety symptoms in new parents; and (2) collects data on contextual factors and treatment preferences that inform the provision of tailored resources to patients and support the PCP to initiate a tailored treatment pathway. The trial will take place at two sites in the Greater Toronto Area: Women's College Hospital Family Practice Health Centre, and South-East Toronto Family Health Team. Potential participants (e.g. pregnant women and their partners) will be identified and recruited during pregnancy. Participants will be randomized with an allocation ratio of 2:1 to increase opportunities to learn about the intervention processes. Participants in the intervention arm will complete e-surveys to monitor for symptoms at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks postpartum. When symptoms are identified, participants will additionally complete information about contextual factors and treatment preferences. A personalized eToolkit for the patient and clinical decision supports for their primary care provider (PCP) will be produced based on responses to the e-surveys at each time-point. The personalized eToolkit with recommendations for each parent will be generated that includes information about online resources, treatment options, and local, community-based psycho-educational and/or social supports. Participants will be emailed a link to their customized set of resources. The application seamlessly integrates into the primary care electronic medical record (EMR) to provide decision support for the primary care provider, and facilitate shared decision making during the clinical encounter regarding treatment and referral options. Participants will also use the eHealth application to monitor their symptoms over time, alert the primary care team regarding changes, and facilitate timely treatment changes as needs evolve. Participants in the control arm will receive usual care from their primary care provider. If they are flagged as symptomatic at baseline (EPDS\>15, PHQ-9 and/or GAD-7 \> 10) they will be removed from the study, and provided with electronic resources immediately. A message via EMR will be sent to their PCP, and if suicidality is flagged, their PCP will also receive a message via fax and phone.