To Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Virtual and Telephone Intervention for the Prevention of Postpartum Depression in Women at Risk

Women's perinatal mental health problems can create a cascade of short- and long-term negative influences for the mother, child, and the family as a whole. To prevent these impacts, preventive online and telephone interventions exist, but need to be tested and improved to develop this type of support to women in Quebec. The Parents \& Babies program, which is a distance learning course, followed during pregnancy and accompanied by telephone follow-up, aims to improve the mental health of future parents.The investigators seek to evaluate the effect of the intervention of the Parents \& Babies program offered with telephone support compared to the course offered without telephone follow-up.

The Parents \& Babies intervention to be evaluated is an adaptation of the existing, evidence-based Mothers \& Babies program which has shown efficacy in four clinical trials for the prevention of postpartum depression through in-person (group or individual) counseling The Parents \& Babies program was adapted to be virtual and include: 1) specific modules for the mother-partner dyad; 2) third-wave cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies targeting well-being, relaxation, mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude; 3) confinement and social distancing related material. Participants follow the program online or with a paper workbook and are called weekly by a member of the intervention team. Participants will fill out three questionnaires (online or by telephone) at 12-25 weeks' gestation, 3 months' postpartum and 6-months postpartum to assess baseline values and trial outcomes, respectively.