1 in 19: New study shines light on reality of suicide among new Ontario moms, moms-to-be – CBC

Fewer than half had contact with a mental health provider in the 30 days before their deaths, study finds

Aug 30, 2017

One in every 19 maternal deaths in Ontario is attributable to suicide.

That’s the troubling finding of a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal earlier this week that shines a light on a topic often seen as taboo: suicide among new mothers and mothers to be.

“Despite high-profile media attention and calls to increase knowledge, with the goal of encouraging policy change, little is known about the true extent of the problem in Canada or the steps that can be taken to prevent it,” write the authors of the study, published August 28.