East York Clinic Integrates Psychiatric Care for New Mothers

A new community-based care model in Toronto's east end is providing pregnant women and new mothers with streamlined access to psychiatric support. As first reported by CBC Toronto, The Midwives’ Clinic of East York-Don Mills has partnered with Michael Garron Hospital to establish the first midwifery clinic in Ontario to provide an on-site psychiatrist.

Launched last year, the Women's Reproductive Mental Health Program integrates psychiatric services directly into the clinic where patients already receive prenatal and postpartum care. Dr. Neda Askari, a psychiatrist with the program, told CBC Toronto that this model removes the need for patients to navigate separate hospital systems or make additional trips. The program has already served more than 150 mothers.

According to clinic staff, the partnership has significantly reduced the wait for initial appointments, dropping from an estimated six to nine months to an average of 27 days. The clinic also reserves weekly appointments for urgent cases to divert patients from emergency departments. Mackenzie Macht, a registered midwife at the clinic, noted that mental health screenings are conducted between 12 and 16 weeks to identify appropriate referrals.

CBC Toronto reports that experts estimate up to 20 per cent of pregnant women are affected by perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, yet Dr. Askari noted that the majority remain undiagnosed, unscreened, and untreated. Sharika Sadaf, a patient who received a psychiatric referral within a week, described the access as a "privilege" and stated that such support should be available to every mother.