Dr. Ellen Lipman, P.I.
Heather Whitty, Project Coordinator
1.
2.
3.
What we know about young mother mental
health?
The Young Mothers Health Study protocols
Results to date



Teen pregnancies account for 3.6% of
pregnancies in Ontario and 4.7% in Hamilton
Young mothers are at risk of mental health
problems (including depression, anxiety and
substance dependence) and socioeconomic
challenges
Children of young mothers are at risk of preterm
birth and low birth weight, and display more
behavioural problems, academic
underachievement, substance abuse, involvement
in crime and mental health problems later in life

Young mothers (N=450) invited to complete
questionnaires about mental health, health
and mental health service utilization and
demographic information
• Target Sample
(N=450)
◦ 15-20 year old females
◦ Pregnant with child (they
intend to carry to term)
or recently gave birth to
child (baby is no older
than 24 months)
◦ Child does not have to
be in care of mother
◦ Focus is Hamilton, but
will accept moms from
other nearby regions
◦ English speakers

Comparison Groups
(N=~110 per group)
◦ 15-20 year old nonpregnant females
◦ Pregnant with first child
or recently gave birth to
first child AND over 21
years old


Young Parents Network
◦ Grace Haven
◦ St. Martin’s Manor
◦ Angela’s Place

Hamilton Health Sciences

St. Joe’s Hospital
Hamilton Public Health
Services
◦ Nurse-Family Partnership
◦ Canadian Prenatal
Nutrition Program
◦ Healthy Babies, Healthy
Children


Hamilton Midwives,
Community Midwives,
Access Midwives
LEAP





◦ Adolescent Medicine
◦ Women & Infants’
Program
◦ Women’s Health Concerns
Clinic
Shelter Health Network
The Living Rock
Catholic Children’s Aid
Society
Hamilton Regional Indian
Centre
Hamilton-Wentworth
District School Board




Mothers are contacted 2-3 months after birth
(for mothers recruited prenatally)
Mothers are contacted as soon as possible for
mothers recruited postpartum
Interview takes about an hour
Interviewer travels to participant at time and
place convenient to participant OR conducted
through telephone interview


$45 gift card to young mothers
$20 gift card to mature mothers and young
women


Participants are assigned an identification
code
No names will ever be published



No anticipated risks with this project
Benefits include information about resources,
opportunity to “tell their story”
Long-term benefits include development of
appropriate, accessible mental health services




Recruitment
Participant Characteristics
Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed by
Participants
Note: Study is currently in-progress,
therefore results are not final
Age
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Mean (range)
High School Graduates
No
Yes
% of HS Grads
Highest education complete
Grade
8
9
10
11
12
Mean (range)
Young Moms
N=140
Mature Moms
N=52
Young Women
N=32
3
4
26
31
34
41
1
18.5 (15-21)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4
27.8 (21-38)
3
1
1
7
14
6
0
18.4 (15-20)
97
43
30.7%
1
51
98.0%
10
22
68.8%
11
13
34
39
43
Gr 10 (Gr 9-12)
0
0
0
1
51
Gr 12 (Gr 11-12)
0
4
1
4
23
Gr 12 (Gr 9-12)
Highest Degree
No Postsecondary
Trade / Diploma
Community College
Bachelor’s
Master’s
PhD
In-progress diploma
In-progress bachelor’s
Income, Personal
Mean (range)
Don’t know
Missing
Income, Household
Mean (range)
Don’t know
Missing
Young Moms
N=140
Mature Moms
N=52
Young Women
N=32
131
1
2
0
0
0
4
2
11
1
15
15
8
1
0
1
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
20
11178
(0-62740)
3
2
28811
(1060-85000)
0
2
25560
(0-6963)
1
0
30030
(384-212740)
46
2
65876.15
140750
(13200-132428) (10172-308500)
9
14
2
3
Young
Moms
(n=140)
Mature
Moms
(n=52)
Young
Women
(n=32)
n(%)
n(%)
n(%)
Major depressive episode,
current
Major depressive episode, past
31 (22.1)
4 (7.7)
6 (18.8)
73 (52.1)
18 (34.6)
12 (37.5)
Manic episode, current
Manic episode, past
11 (7.9)
23 (16.4)
1 (1.9)
8 (15.4)
1 (3.1)
1 (3.1)
Hypomanic episode, past
44 (31.4)
12 (23.1)
12 (37.5)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder,
current
15 (10.7)
1 (1.9)*
2 (6.3)
*data
missing (n=1)
Panic disorder without Agoraphobia,
current
Panic disorder with Agoraphobia,
current
Agoraphobia, without history panic
disorder current
Young
Moms
(n=140)
Mature
Moms
(n=52)
Young
Women
(n=32)
n(%)
n(%)
n(%)
1 (0.7)
1 (1.9)
1 (3.1)
14 (10.0)
1 (1.9)
2 (6.3)
69 (49.3)
8 (15.4)
6 (18.8)
Separation Anxiety Disorder, current
19 (13.6)
0
1 (3.1)
Social Phobia, current
30 (21.4)
5 (9.6)
6 (18.8)
Specific Phobia, current
48 (34.3)
11 (21.2)
6 (18.8)
OCD, current
34 (24.3)
9 (17.3)
6 (18.8)
PTSD, current
31 (22.1)
0
3 (9.4)
Alcohol Dependence, current
Young
Moms
(n=140)
Mature
Moms
(n=52)
Young
Women
(n=32)
n(%)
n(%)
n(%)
15 (10.7)
2 (3.8)
6 (18.8)
8 (5.7)
0
0
17 (12.1)
2 (3.8)
5 (15.6)
9 (6.4)
1 (1.9)
0
0
0
0
Psychotic Disorder, lifetime
12 (8.6)
1 (1.9)*
0
Psychotic Disorder, current
8 (5.7)
0*
1 (3.1)
Alcohol Abuse, current
Substance Dependence, current
Substance Abuse, current
Tourette’s Disorder/motor
current/vocal
*data
missing (n=1)
Young
Moms
(n=140)
Mature
Moms
(n=52)
Young
Women
(n=32)
n(%)
n(%)
n(%)
ADHD Combined, current
ADHD Inattentive, current
ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive, current
15 (10.7)
6 (4.3)
8 (5.7)
1 (1.9)
1 (1.9)
0
0
0
1 (3.1)
Conduct Disorder, current
20 (14.3)
0
1 (3.1)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
25 (17.9)
5 (9.6)
2 (6.3)
4.9 (0-15)
3.4 (0-12)
2.2 (0-10)
1.1 (0-7)
2.8 (0-9)
1.8 (0-7)
Average total disorders (range)
Average current disorders (range)


Young mothers participating in the study
endorse multiple psychiatric disorders, and a
range of disorders; comparison women
endorse fewer disorders
Young mothers participating in the study are
disadvantaged in terms of education and
income
1.
2.
3.
Select young women (N=30) will be invited
to participate in qualitative interviews to
explore and understand their mental health
service use
Select young women (N=50) will be invited
to complete questionnaires about parenting
and child development
Interview service providers and policy
makers about the perceived service needs
and adequacy of services for young mothers.


We need more young moms to interview!
Provide information about our study
◦ Display flyer in high traffic areas of your facility
◦ Talk about the study, answer questions
◦ Hand out study brochure

Use the Consent to be Contacted form
◦ Project coordinator will initiate contact with if you
collect participant contact information and fax form
◦ Removes the onus of initiating contact from
mother, who can be busy and may overlook the
brochure
Questions?
Heather Whitty
Project Coordinator
905-521-2100
ext. 74349
Text: 905-869-4349
Fax: 905-574-6665
hwhitty@mcmaster.ca
Dr. Ellen Lipman
Primary Investigator
905-521-2100
ext. 77359
lipmane@mcmaster.ca