Telephone Coaching Intervention for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Among women who present with symptoms of depression or anxiety within 5 ‐ 12 weeks of giving birth, the following research questions will be considered: 1. Feasibility and Acceptability of the two intervention components ‐ WBI and coaching: a) Among women in the coached and non‐coached groups: i) What are participant perceptions of the usability of the WBI with regard to the layout, navigation and functionality at 3 months following randomization? ii) What are the rates of satisfaction with the intervention at 6 months? b) Among women in the coached group: i) What are rates of completion of the planned telephone contacts? ii) What are participant perceptions of the acceptability of the coaching at 6 months? iii) What are coach perceptions of acceptability of coaching intervention? 2. Effectiveness: The EPDS is the primary outcome measure for depression and the GAD‐7 is the primary outcome measure for anxiety i) Primary outcomes: What is the effect of coaching on the severity of depression and/or anxiety symptoms at the 3 and 6 month follow‐up? ii). Secondary outcomes: What is the effect of coaching at 3 and 6 months on maternal functioning, parental stress and at 6 months on use of mental health services, and barriers to use of these services? Hypothesis: The investigators expect a decrease in scores in the EPDS and GAD‐7 in the group with coaching when compared to the group without coaching at 6 months. The investigators will conduct a pilot single ‐blind randomized control trial with lay telephone coaching with two groups of women, one assigned to the WBI with coaching and the other to the self‐guided WBI. This RCT would consist of the following steps: 1. Recruiting a sample of women immediately post‐birth(24 hrs) at SMHC and obtaining consent to contact them again within 5 ‐ 12 weeks postpartum 2. 5‐12 weeks postpartum: Screen women for eligibility for RCT; 3. Request informed consent to RCT 4. Baseline measures (T0); 5. Follow up at 3 months (T1) and 6. Follow‐up at 6 months (T2). Women who deliver elsewhere in the CIUSSS can be referred to the study at 5‐12 weeks postpartum. These women then follow steps 2‐6 The participants will be asked to answer online questionnaires at each time point as mentioned above and use web‐based resources for information and support after giving birth. The intervention group will receive telephone support from coaches to help answer questions and navigate the website material.