A program in Sarnia-Lambton helping new mothers deal with postpartum mood disorder will run another three years, an official says, thanks to a donation made in memory of one of its founders.
A program in Sarnia-Lambton helping new mothers deal with postpartum mood disorder will run another three years, an official says, thanks to a donation made in memory of one of its founders.
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Ann Balcom “really was a pioneer in setting up our postpartum services,” said Craig McKenzie, St. Clair Child and Youth Services (SCCYS) interim executive director.
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The former early years team member at the lead agency providing mental health services for children and youth in Lambton County died in 2023, and her family recently announced a $50,000 donation to continue the postpartum mood disorders program, which includes peer support, counseling and community resources for those struggling with the disorder that affects one in five new mothers, McKenzie said.
The money means training more facilitators — currently there are two for the three-times-a-year, 16-week program that is always full at SCCYS’ Point Edward office — and giving time to find a sustainable funding source, he said.
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The original program, which Balcom helped start about 15 years ago, folded several years ago after government grant funding was withdrawn, he said, noting he’s not sure the specific funding source.
St. Clair Child and Youth officials, along with Lambton public health, which provides program facilitators, and the Family Counseling Centre, approached the Sarnia Community Foundation in 2022 about resuming the program and the foundation has been funding it on an interim basis since, McKenzie said.
The Balcom memorial donation is now “moving it forward, getting it more stable, expanding the number of facilitators, and then, hopefully, finding (provincial) long-term funding,” he said.
“We would like the government to recognize that this really is about children’s mental health; this is about infants’ mental health,” he said, explaining mental health between infants and mothers is inextricably linked.
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“We believe it should be funded by the government.”
McKenzie recalled Balcom’s “unwavering passion for families in need of (post-partum mood disorder) support,” and that “she was a wonderful colleague, a champion, a mentor, and most importantly, a kind and generous support for those families struggling with postpartum.”
The agency that relates to fundraising and donations for 10 to 15 per cent of its yearly budget, McKenzie said, also recently announced a $20,000 donation from financial services provider Selectpath to help break down barriers to counseling.
“One thing we’ve noticed over the past year, coming out of the pandemic, is families are certainly stretched thin with the resources they have available,” McKenzie said.
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Significantly, getting to Point Edward has been difficult for people who live in other parts of the county and can’t afford gas or a vehicle, but still need help, he said.
People also have been struggling with having enough food and clothing, he said.
So, the new fund established with the Selectpath donation allows “particularly around transportation, more flexibility to ensure that when people need mental health supports, that it’s easier for them to access,” McKenzie said.
Who qualifies for support is determined through relationships with therapists, he said.
“As we get to know their need, it allows us to easily meet it without having a lot of red tape, or hoops they have to jump through.”
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