David Eby promises perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital

David Eby promises perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital

Critics argue the commitment to perinatal mental health unit is long overdue

WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide.B.C. NDP Leader David Eby pledged Tuesday to fund a dedicated perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital where new parents facing mental health crises could be treated without being separated from their babies.

But critics argue the commitment is long overdue.

More than half of B.C. mothers and birthing parents — 56 per cent — reported emotional or mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum in a national 2024 survey from Statistics Canada.

Of those who reported challenges in B.C., 64 per cent said they began postpartum.

"No mother wants to choose between going to the hospital to receive the care she needs to get well and staying with her baby. It is a reason that people don't seek help," said Kiri Bird, co-founder of the non-profit In Her Circle, adding that this can lead to dangerous circumstances.

The non-profit was founded by friends and family of Jenna Dorman, who died by suicide after experiencing severe postpartum mental health challenges in 2024.

Jenna Dorman and her newborn son and toddler. She spent months struggling with postpartum depression and died by suicide in November 2024. (Jay Hoggard/Submitted)

Earlier this year, the group started advocating for a dedicated perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital.

Bird told CBC News that if government and philanthropic funding come together, the unit could be operational as early as 2028.

That would help address one of the biggest challenges many birthing parents face when seeking psychiatric care postpartum, according to Clare Zeschky, executive director of the Pacific Post Partum Support Society.

Zeschky said across the province, there are no facilities that allow parents to receive inpatient psychiatric care accompanied by their babies.

"It comes with a lot of stigma even still. So having your baby there really can help ease a lot of that," she said.

The promise was part of a broader commitment from the B.C. NDP to launch a provincewide women's health strategy aimed at improving access to menopause care, reducing treatment and diagnostic delays, and strengthening community reproductive, sexual and menstrual health services.

The party also promised expanded PharmaCare coverage for alternative menopause treatments for women who cannot use hormone therapy, and improved access to vaginal estrogen through pharmacists to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections and relieve physical discomfort.

"They sound like technical small areas. These are of huge significance to so many women across the province," said Eby.

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Some advocacy groups for women's health told CBC News they welcomed the announcement.

The Menopause Foundation of Canada told CBC News that two of Eby's promises align with calls in its national menopause policy agenda, including non-hormonal menopause medications to PharmaCare and allowing pharmacists to prescribe vaginal estrogen treatments.

But the B.C. NDP's plan was also met with criticism from opposing provincial parties.

The B.C. Green Party said in a statement that in 2024 it called for the NDP government to update the province's Health and Well-Being of Women in British Columbia report, which it says hasn't been updated since 2011.

"We’re glad the NDP is finally listening, but women shouldn’t have to wait for an election campaign to get the care they need," the statement read.

The B.C. Conservative Party said in an email to CBC News that "people deserve better" than election promises from Eby.

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CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko wrote in an email that her party's approach, if elected, would include free counselling "for people who need it," working toward up to 12 sessions a year.

In an email, OneBC said it is not taking Eby's pledge seriously, citing "his poor record of delivering on these promises."

The commitment to expanding perinatal care isn't completely new in B.C.

In March 2025, MLA Jody Toor, now running for re-election in Langley-Willowbrook, introduced Bill M204, the Perinatal and Postnatal Mental Health Strategy Act.

Zeschky told CBC News she hasn't seen much action since the legislation passed, while Bird said she was still waiting for the strategy to be tabled.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to look for help:

Arden McLeod, from Vancouver, is an associate producer with CBC News. He has a passion for community storytelling, local news, and reflecting the values of B.C. He graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology's broadcast and online journalism program. You can reach him at Arden.McLeod@cbc.ca.