Pregnant, Postpartum and Families with a Baby

If you need help now, call 911 or a crisis intervention service.

Links on this page leading to the Best Start website are currently not working
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Take the first step toward feeling better.

Are you facing emotional challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth? Explore the resources below and connect with the care you deserve.

See also: Mood and Anxiety Disorders During and After Pregnancy

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Our Healthy Families team is here to listen and offer support, free of charge.

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Let us come to you.

Pregnant or have young children? Learn about our Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program.

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Mental Health Services

Help lines and other mental health supports for adults, children and youth, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQ+ and more.

Help Lines

View a list of Help Lines on our Mental Health Services page.

Medical Assessments

Contact your health care provider, physician, midwife, nurse practitioner or obstetrician if you are not feeling yourself and wondering if you may be experiencing a mood change during pregnancy or after having a baby.

Perinatal Psychiatric consultation is available through the Ontario Telemedicine (tele-psychiatry) Program to all Ontario Primary Health Care Providers (Family MD, NP, etc.).

If you do not have health care provider, please visit a local walk-in clinic, or access a virtual clinic.

Walk-In Clinics

Virtual Health Care

Community Mental Health Services

The Alliance Centre at West Nipissing General Hospital

Free, confidential and bilingual mental health and substance abuse services to people 16 years of age and older who live in the Municipality of West Nipissing.
All referral sources, including self-referrals, are accepted.

Phone: 705-753-2271 ext. 721

Email: alliancecentre@alliancecentre.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association (Muskoka Parry Sound)

Counselling services provide assessment, individual counselling, treatment planning and group counselling for mental health and addictions. Services may also include psychiatric consultation.

Parry Sound: 705-746-4264

Sundridge: 705-384-5392

Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing

A fully accredited, non-profit organization providing professional counselling services and community programs to individuals, couples and families.

Phone: 705-472-6515

Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca

Counselling and therapy services for those under the age of 18 years old and their families.

North Bay: 705-476-2293

Parry Sound: 705-746-4293

Sundridge: 705-384-5225

General: 1-800-668-8555

Postpartum Matters

A free eight-week online support group run by the Mental Health Program at Women’s College.

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program

Treatment and services for people with depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related conditions
Online appointments available
Time-limited therapy

Phone: 1-877-341-4729 ext. 2883

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Group at NBRHC Outpatient Clinic

Nipissing residents only.
Physician referral required.
Group for mothers/birthing persons who have given birth or adopted a child in the last year, have the child in their care, and who are experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety.
Uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is informed by Mindfulness and Self –Compassion.

Your Family Physician/Nurse Practitioner

If your health care provider is part of the Family Health Team or Community Health Centre, you have access to free time-limited counselling and different groups.

Parenting and Play Groups

Nipissing District

EarlyON Child and Family Centres provide free programs for adults and children 0-6 years of age to drop in, meet, share, play and find friendly support and information.

EarlyON - North Bay and Area

Early ON - North Bay Indigenous Hub

Phone: 705-995-0060

Email: earlyon@gmghub.ca

View the EarlyON North Bay Indigenous Hub Facebook page

EarlyON/On y va - West Nipissing

MotherCare

Based in North Bay, this program offers:

individual/group nutrition counseling
tips for a healthy pregnancy
a chance to meet other pregnant women and new moms
information about other services in the community and much more.

Phone: 705-472-0910
Email: more.info@parnipcas.org

Parry Sound District

Community Action Program for Children: Tiny Tots

Tiny Tots is a parent/child group offered at the Parry Sound Friendship Centre through the The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC).

Phone: 705-746-5970 ext. 111

Email: cpc@psfc.ca

View the Parry Sound Friendship Centre Facebook page

EarlyON Child and Family Centre

EarlyON Child and Family Centres provide free programs for adults and children 0-6 years of age to drop in, meet, share, play and find friendly support and information.

Phone: 705-746-9522 ext. 4350

Email: lwhetham@psdssab.org

View the EarlyON Child and Family Centres in the District of Parry Sound Facebook page

Great Beginnings

Programs support pregnant people and parents of young children 0 to 3 years of age with opportunities for play, resource sharing and parenting strategies.

Parry Sound: 705-746-4293

South River: 705-384-5225 ext. 2211

Email: greatbeginnings@handstfhn.ca

View the Great Beginnings Parry Sound Facebook page

Indigenous Programs and Supports

Talk 4 Healing

24/7 help, support and resources for Indigenous women
Services in 14 languages

Call or text 1-855-554-4325 

Live web chat  also available.

B’Saanibamaadsiwin

Meaning "living a good life," this Aboriginal mental health program provides mental wellness care that is culturally safe. Services available include assessment, referral, crisis and counselling services.

Phone: 705-746-2512

Hope for Wellness Help Line

Available 24/7 to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Offers immediate counselling and crisis intervention support.
Online chat and phone call options available.

Phone: 1-855-242-3310

Indigenous Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program (Nipissing District)

Helps Indigenous families to provide the best opportunities for healthy development up to 6 years of age.
Prenatal and parenting support
Infant supplies (diapers, baby food, etc.)
Craft and activity supplies
Referrals to community resources

Phone: 705-472-2811 ext. 204

Mental Health and Addictions Program

Offered Ontario-wide and includes a wide range of services and supports to Métis children, youth and adults.
Services are delivered in person, over the phone, or by video conference.

Phone:1-800-263-4889 ext. 7

Email: MHA@metisnation.org

North Bay Indigenous Hub

Holistic, culturally relevant mental wellness and social services for individuals and families.

Phone: 705-995-0060

Email: info@gmghub.ca

Parry Sound Friendship Centre

Working in a Healthy holistic environment; collectedly and cooperatively to promote and deliver programs and activities to build healthier lifestyles, families and communities.
Available to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

Phone: 705-746-5970

Métis Nation of Ontario Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program

This Program is designed to help children and families from the pre-natal stage to six years of age. The goal of is to ensure equitable access to resources, support, and knowledge for Métis families so that their children have the best possible opportunity to thrive.

Phone: 705-474-2767 ext. 314

Email: contactus@metisnation.org

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Postpartum Support International

Postpartum Support International offers more than 20 online support groups, including groups for military moms, NICU parents, queer parents, pregnancy mood, pregnancy and infant loss, postpartum psychosis survivors and more.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network

PAIL provides support to families who have suffered the loss of a pregnancy or the death of their baby/babies.

Self-Help

BounceBack®

A free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry.
Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

Self-Help Booklets

The resources listed are provided for informational purposes. Users are encouraged to verify the accuracy and relevance of the information prior to use. To help find the option that is best for you, review this list with a trusted health care provider.