Reducing Barriers to Perinatal Mental Health
The Urquhart Program is a perinatal mental health and support initiative designed to address the unique challenges faced during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. This program was named in honour of Judy Urquhart, one of the founders of Gentle Path and a dedicated counsellor who profoundly impacted the Saint John community. Judy was passionate about removing barriers to mental health support, ensuring access for all regardless of financial means or social status. Though she passed away in 2021, her vision and passion live on through Gentle Path and now the Urquhart Program, which continues her legacy by building bridges, closing gaps, offering hope, and holding space for families during life’s most vulnerable moments.
The Urquhart Program was developed based on interviews with parents to identify what is truly needed and missing in the community. This approach ensures that the program offers specialized, wraparound support tailored to the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Recognizing that financial barriers often prevent access to care, the program offers subsidized counselling sessions. While there is a limit to the number of subsidized sessions available to ensure equitable access, efforts are ongoing to raise funds to expand this support. An application form for subsidized sessions is available, and the program appreciates patience as it works to address this significant barrier.
One unique feature of the Urquhart Program is the provision of post-discharge “check-ins” at specific intervals, bridging the gap between hospital care and community support. The program also offers counselling services specifically for the perinatal population to address mental health and practical needs.
The journey to parenthood can be both exciting and challenging, with potential difficulties such as loss, depression, anxiety, birth trauma, NICU admissions, and the transition to parenthood. The Urquhart Program is here to provide a safe space to navigate these challenges, offering support and understanding.
Referrals to the program are now being accepted from healthcare professionals (e.g. physicians, public health) or via self-referral. Referral forms can be found on the program’s website and can be faxed, emailed, or completed directly online. For questions or further information about the program, please contact Sarah Weaver at sweaver@gentlepathsj.com.
