Design & build an interactive, easy to update digital solution that lists appropriate perinatal mental health services.
Project Description:
The mental health concerns of those who are pregnant or given birth in the last 12 months (perinatal mental health) have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is a recently formed Perinatal mental health workgroup in Hamilton led by the City of Hamilton Public Health Services. Members of the workgroup represent Hospitals, Midwifery, Primary care, Community Health Centers, Mental health services and Social services. Although there is an Ontario Perinatal Mental Health pathway, the workgroup has identified that there is a need to better coordinate perinatal mental health services across Hamilton so individuals can access the right service at the right time.
The first step to coordinating services is being able to navigate through the existing perinatal mental health services in an easy way. The workgroup has identified that a digital solution is needed for health and social service professionals. This digital solution should be interactive, easy to use and easy to keep updated as services change and possible to scale up in the future. The solution should be easily accessible by wide variety of community health and social service providers and aligns with organization policies and privacy legislation.
Intended Outcomes:
Digital solutions will be created into a final product internally through the City of Hamilton, through PMH workgroup or via an external vendor. The product would then be shared and promoted with community providers and clients.
We anticipate this product will have a positive and meaningful impact for individuals with perinatal mental health concerns within Hamilton. The product will allow for healthcare and social service providers to easily connect their patients to appropriate mental health services.
Instructor name: Andrea Hemmerich, Faculty of Engineering
City staff name: Erin Fuller, Program Manager - Health Promotion