Best Practices in Perinatal Mental Health Screening for First Nations Mothers

This study examines best practices in perinatal mental health screening for First Nations mothers, with a focus on enhancing cultural safety in perinatal mental health care. Effective screening is critical for early identification and intervention; however, current approaches often do not fully reflect the cultural, social, and systemic contexts that shape First Nations women’s experiences. Challenges include limited cultural validation of screening tools, variability in implementation across providers, and a lack of standardized, culturally safe guidelines.

Guided by the Ethical Space of Engagement, this qualitative study will explore provider perspectives on current practices and opportunities for improvement. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with approximately 15–20 Indigenous healthcare and community-based providers involved in perinatal care. Data will be analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of how perinatal mental health screening is carried out in practice and identify ways to strengthen culturally responsive and contextually appropriate care. This research aims to inform policy, service delivery, and ethical guidelines, supporting more community-informed mental health care for First Nations families.

This project is co-funded in partnership with Mitacs and Research Manitoba.

  • Madison is entering her second year in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program at the University of Manitoba and is a member of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. Her research focuses on mental health for children and families, with an emphasis on culturally grounded approaches that support Indigenous communities. She works as a research assistant with the Hearts and Minds Lab, contributing to projects focused on Indigenous health and well-being. In her master’s research, she examines best practices in perinatal mental health screening for First Nations mothers. She aspires to become a clinical psychologist supporting Indigenous clients through clinical work and research.