Canadian research finds telephone based peer support effective in preventing postnatal depression

This journal article outlines an evaluation into the effectiveness of telephone based peer support in the prevention of postnatal depression in Ontario, Canada with 701 women identified as high risk for postnatal depression within the first two weeks of giving birth.

The telephone support was provided by volunteers recruited from the community who had previously experienced and recovered from self-reported postnatal depression. They also attended training.

The evaluation covered 221 women who received peer support and over 80% were satisfied and would recommend this support to a friend.

Read the article ‘ Effect of peer support on prevention of postnatal depression among high risk women: multisite randomised controlled trial’ (British Medical Journal, issue 331: a3065, 2009)

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