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Research Spotlight: A Gap in Training, Peripartum Mental Health and the Role of Pharmacists
May 4, 2026
Peripartum mental health conditions, those occurring during pregnancy and up to a year postpartum, affect a significant number of women in Canada. Yet they remain underdiagnosed and undertreated, with some studies suggesting that fewer than 10% of women who need care actually receive it.
Pharmacists are among the most accessible health professionals, positioning them to play a meaningful role in supporting patients during this period. But a new study examining Canadian pharmacy education suggests the profession may not yet be fully prepared for that responsibility.
What the Research Found
Researchers, including our CEO Nardine Nakhla, surveyed Canadian PharmD programs to understand how peripartum mental health is taught. While all responding schools agreed pharmacists can play an important role in supporting peripartum patients, the amount of training students receive is limited. Key findings include:
- Most programs dedicate only 1 to 3 hours of instruction to peripartum mental health.
- Content is typically integrated into broader courses rather than taught as a standalone topic.
- The primary teaching method is traditional lectures, with relatively few opportunities for experiential learning such as simulated patient interactions.
- Figure 3 of the study also shows that the most commonly covered topics are depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder during pregnancy, while other conditions, such as personality disorders or obsessive compulsive disorder, are rarely addressed in pharmacy curricula.
Perhaps most importantly, educators reported that graduates are generally less prepared to screen patients for mental health conditions or connect them to appropriate support resources.
Why This Matters
Mental health during pregnancy and postpartum is a complex, multidisciplinary challenge involving physicians, pharmacists, nurses, mental health specialists, and social supports. Yet gaps in training can make it difficult for frontline providers to confidently identify and support patients in need.
Pharmacists already serve as frequent touchpoints for peripartum patients, whether through medication counselling, prescription refills, or breastfeeding related medication questions. With the right training and collaboration pathways, they could help identify symptoms earlier, support medication decisions, and guide patients to appropriate care.
Connecting This to MAPflow
For MAPflow users, this research highlights why structured clinical tools are so valuable in areas where training may be variable or limited.
For example, the nausea and vomiting in pregnancy algorithm in MAPflow already supports pharmacists in conducting structured assessments, identifying red flags, recommending appropriate therapy, and determining when referral is required. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is often one of the earliest clinical touchpoints pharmacists have with pregnant patients, creating a natural opportunity to build rapport and identify other health concerns that may emerge during pregnancy.
Looking ahead, MAPflow is also expanding its chronic disease management algorithms to include mental health related care pathways. These tools are designed to help pharmacists recognize symptoms, support medication management, and guide appropriate referral and follow up when mental health concerns arise.
Together, these tools reflect an important evolution in pharmacy practice. Pharmacists are not only supporting acute pregnancy related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, they are increasingly positioned to identify and support broader health needs throughout the peripartum period.
As care becomes more distributed across community settings, structured clinical pathways and coordinated follow up can help pharmacists confidently contribute to multidisciplinary care, improving access, continuity, and outcomes for patients.
Not a MAPflow user? See how MAPflow supports pharmacists with structured tools for complex care. Book a demo.
