The Wellbeing Course for New and Expecting Parents is a free online therapy course for expecting parents or parents with a child under 2 years old and experiencing mental health symptoms. The aim of this course is to provide education and guidance on simple but effective cognitive behavioural techniques for managing symptoms often experienced by new or expecting parents. This course helps new and expecting parents with thoughts, behaviours and emotions related to mental health problems.
This Course was developed in response to the widespread need for accessible mental health treatment for new and expecting parents as outlined in the Government of Saskatchewan’s Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions 2023-2028. Many people who have depression and anxiety never seek treatment, but do have access to the Internet.
The Wellbeing Course for New and Expecting Parents is made up of 5 easy to understand lessons. Lessons consist of educational materials based on cognitive behaviour therapy that are accessed online. Clients are encouraged to work on various activities during the week; this often takes several hours. Throughout the course, clients will receive automated emails with important reminders and prompts.
The Wellbeing Course for New and Expecting Parents is offered with 8 weeks of therapist support. This means that during the week, clients can send questions or comments to their designated online therapist through a secure message system. On a set day each week the therapist checks the website, reviews client progress on the course, and responds to messages. Most contact with the therapist is through secure emails, but sometimes therapists contact clients by phone.
In this course, individuals will be assigned to a registered or certified provider or to a graduate student under supervision of a registered provider. All therapists who provide support during the Wellbeing Course for New and Expecting Parents will work out of the Online Therapy Unit and will have training in psychology or social work.
We are always conducting research in order to continually improve Courses offered by the Online Therapy Unit. When you apply for the Course, you will be provided with details of the research we are conducting, such as research into effectiveness and the needs of specific groups.
Clients complete brief questionnaires before they begin, on a weekly basis throughout, after the course is completed, and 3 months after that. The questionnaires track progress and help therapists assess how the client is doing. These questionnaires do not take very long but provide us with important information about progress and the outcomes of the Course.
The Wellbeing Course for New and Expecting Parents is available to Saskatchewan residents who are currently expecting a baby or has a child under 2 years old, are 16 years of age or older, are comfortable using and have access to the internet. This Course is not suitable for those with severe problems with alcohol or drugs, unmanaged mania or psychosis, or have strong thoughts of suicide. If any of the above indicates that online therapy is not suited to your needs, please refer to the resource page and speak with your family doctor about other service options.
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact us.