Madison Young
Best Practices in Perinatal Mental Health Screening for First Nations Mothers
Perinatal mental health screening can help identify concerns early and connect mothers with appropriate support. Yet screening approaches do not always account for the cultural, social and systemic realities that shape First Nations women’s experiences of care.
Madison’s project examines current screening practices and opportunities to improve them. The research considers challenges such as limited cultural validation of screening tools, variation in how screening is implemented and the absence of consistent culturally safe guidance.
Approach and methodology
Guided by the Ethical Space of Engagement, the project uses a qualitative approach to explore the perspectives of Indigenous health-care and community-based providers involved in perinatal care.
Approximately 15 to 20 providers are expected to participate in semi-structured interviews. The research plan calls for reflexive thematic analysis to identify themes in their experiences with current screening practices and opportunities for improvement.
Expected contribution
The project aims to identify ways of making perinatal screening more culturally responsive and appropriate to First Nations mothers’ circumstances. Its anticipated findings may help inform future guidance, service delivery and policy discussions that support community-informed care for First Nations families.
About the researcher
Madison Young is a member of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on the mental health of children and families, particularly culturally grounded approaches that support Indigenous communities.
She works as a research assistant in the Hearts and Minds Lab, contributing to projects focused on Indigenous health and well-being. Through her graduate research, Madison is examining perinatal mental health screening for First Nations mothers. She hopes to become a clinical psychologist supporting Indigenous clients through both clinical practice and research.
