Perinatal Outpatient Mental Health Clinic team

Fraser Wallace, Catherine Brakus, Emilie Lacasse, Leah Warawa, Amanda Strain, Dr. Jennene Freed, Dr. ShainaArcher, Dr. Andrea Mitchell, Leah McBride, Kaitlan Kallechy, Jenna Romaniw, Ameilia McNish, Janice Burkholder, CarlyPain, Jill Danbrook, Meghan Edlund, Melissa Hanson

The Perinatal Outpatient Mental Health Clinic team has a significant impact across Covenant. Within the team, colleagues work closely through interdisciplinary care conferences, regular touchpoints and peer-to-peer feedback fostering trust, shared learning and professional growth. They have a culture of psychological safety and open communication that strengthens team cohesion and enhances clinical practice.

Care is co-created with patients and their support networks, ensuring shared decision-making, goal-setting and culturally responsive care. Including a patient partner with lived perinatal mental health experience in weekly support groups strengthens connection, reduces stigma and empowers patients and families to actively participate in their care.

The clinic offers a warm, baby-friendly space, including an interview room with safe play materials and a dedicated feeding and changing area, allowing patients to fully engage. Children are welcome at all appointments removing barriers to access.

The team maximizes resources and strengthens care by building partnerships across programs, disciplines and zones. Women’s Health provided orientation for new staff in maternal and newborn health, while a supervisor from the enhanced services for women program supplemented training. Covenant communications supported the clinic with website development, brochures and a perinatal commercial, ensuring patients and families could easily access information. Spiritual care provided a staff member to provide grief and loss support for patients navigating the transition into parenthood, complementing the whole-person care approach.