Mother-Baby Psychiatric Units: Should Canada Implement These?
Over the course of my winter break, I spent a lot of my time watching movies. While I loved many, one that particularly stood out to me was this documentary Witches (2024), which examines postpartum depression. During my viewing, I was introduced to the existence of mother-baby psychiatric units. Pregnancy and early parenthood are often described as joyful milestones, but for many families this period is marked by significant mental health challenges. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis can emerge or worsen during pregnancy or after birth. In Canada, it is estimated that tens of thousands of parents experience perinatal mental illness each year, making it one of the most common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2023).
When symptoms become severe, hospitalization may be necessary. Traditionally, this has meant separating the parent from their infant while psychiatric care is provided. Although safety is the priority, separation can intensify distress, disrupt bonding, and complicate recovery. Mother-baby psychiatric units (MBUs) offer a different, more compassionate approach, one that keeps mothers and babies together during treatment.
What are MBUs?
Mother-baby psychiatric units are specialized inpatient programs that admit parents experiencing acute perinatal mental illness alongside their infants, typically during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum. Care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams trained in both adult psychiatry and infant development. Treatment focuses not only on symptom stabilization, but also on parenting confidence, attachment, and the early parent-infant relationship (RANZCP, 2021).
This model has been widely implemented in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and several European nations, where MBUs are considered best practice for severe perinatal mental illness (Howard et al., 2018).
Early infancy is a critical period for emotional attachment and brain development. Research shows that keeping parents and infants together during psychiatric hospitalization supports secure attachment and helps preserve caregiving routines such as feeding and soothing (Poels et al., 2023). Studies of MBUs have found that most infants admitted with their mothers demonstrate typical growth and developmental outcomes, even when the parent is experiencing significant psychiatric symptoms (Poels et al., 2023). In contrast, separation during this vulnerable period may increase parental guilt, anxiety, and fear, which can negatively affect recovery and long-term parent-child relationships.
Parents consistently report higher satisfaction with MBUs compared to general psychiatric wards. Qualitative studies show that women feel more understood, less stigmatized, and better supported when care is tailored to their role as a parent (Howard et al., 2018). Even when clinical outcomes such as readmission rates are similar between MBUs and general inpatient units, patient-reported experiences tend to be significantly more positive in MBUs — an important factor in engagement, trust, and continuity of care (Nair et al., 2022).
MBUs do more than manage crises. They provide hands-on support for parenting skills, emotional attunement, and confidence, which parents take home with them after discharge. By strengthening the parent-infant relationship early, MBUs may reduce future mental health risks for both parent and child (Poels et al., 2023).
Should MBUs come to British Columbia?
In British Columbia, perinatal mental health needs are substantial. Approximately 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 non-birthing partners experience a perinatal mental health disorder, yet access to specialized services remains inconsistent across regions (CRD Perinatal Mental Health Coalition, 2023). Advocacy efforts are growing. BC Women’s Health Foundation has championed the development of a dedicated inpatient perinatal mental health unit, envisioned as one of the first of its kind in North America (BC Women’s Health Foundation, 2024). This shows the increasing recognition that perinatal mental health care must move beyond fragmented outpatient services and include specialized inpatient options that keep families together. British Columbia already has strong maternity and public health infrastructure. MBUs would complement existing services by providing a safe, evidence-informed option when outpatient care is no longer sufficient.
While the benefits of MBUs are compelling, challenges remain. These units require specialized staffing, infrastructure, and sustained funding. There are also gaps in the literature, particularly regarding long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness (Cochrane Collaboration, 2015). However, the absence of perfect data should not obscure what is already clear; separating parents from their infants during psychiatric crises carries its own risks. MBUs offer a model of care that prioritizes safety and connection; two elements that are not mutually exclusive.
Mother-baby psychiatric units reflect a shift toward more humane, family-centred mental health care. By treating severe perinatal mental illness while preserving the parent-infant relationship, MBUs support recovery in a way that aligns with how families actually live and heal. For British Columbia, investing in this model represents an opportunity to improve outcomes for parents, infants, and future generations. Keeping mothers and babies together is not just compassionate, it is evidence-informed care that recognizes the importance of connection at the very start of life.
By: Nora Ainsley (she/her) | Blog Committee Member
References
BC Women’s Health Foundation. (2024). Perinatal mental health unit.
Cochrane Collaboration. (2015). Mother and baby units for severe mental illness.
CRD Perinatal Mental Health Coalition. (2023). Universal access to perinatal mental health care.
Howard, L. M., Khalifeh, H., Perinatal Mental Health Services. (2018). Experiences of mother and baby units. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(12), 1039–1048.
ITV News. (2024, February 6). The surge in new mums getting mental health treatment [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/80WUWg_jqJ8 (YouTube)
Nair, R., Bilszta, J., & Shah, S. (2022). Outcomes of mother-baby unit admissions. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 149, 1–8.
Poels, E. M., Bijma, H. H., Galbally, M., & Bergink, V. (2023). Mother-baby units: A systematic review of outcomes for mothers and infants. BMC Psychiatry, 23, 112.
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2023). Mental health during pregnancy and after birth. Government of Canada.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). (2021). Perinatal mental health services clinical guidelines.
