Postpartum depression is the most common medical complication of pregnancy and post-pregnancy, according to Dr. Tanya Tulipan, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University.
Speaking during a session supported by Biogen at Benefits Canada’s 2026 Chronic Disease at Work conference, she defined PPD as a major depressive episode that begins within the first four weeks postpartum; however, in practice, she sees people up to six to nine months postpartum.
A major depressive episode lasts at least two weeks and is characterized by low mood or lack of interest, said Dr. Tulipan, noting four other symptoms must be present to meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders guidelines, whether it’s changes in sleep and appetite, poor concentration or memory, excessive feelings of guilt, low energy or motivation, agitation or slowing down or suicidal thoughts.
PPD isn’t the ‘baby blues’, she emphasized, which affects 50-75 per cent of new mothers starting within hours of giving birth, resolves within two weeks, is mild and doesn’t affect the person’s functioning. It is, however, a risk factor for developing PPD.
PPD is diagnosed in 15 per cent of new mothers in Canada, but 23 per cent state they have feelings consistent with PPD or an anxiety disorder, she noted. “In Canada, for moms, the stigma, shame and fear of judgement about having PPD is the first barrier.”
Other barriers to care, according to Dr. Tulipan, are: lack of access to primary care, wait times for specialists, lack of specialized perinatal mental-health care, childcare issues and insurance coverage during parental leave.
In addition, PPD is estimated to cost about $150,000 per case in Canada, she said, noting maternal mental-health problems directly and indirectly cost Canada around $6.7 billion.
Read: 2025 Mental Health Summit: A look at the importance of maternal mental health
In June 2025, the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments included its first perinatal mood and anxiety treatment guidelines, depicting various lines of treatment and provided levels of evidence for each intervention, she added.
Choosing safe treatment options depends on a lot of factors, she said, especially if the mother is breastfeeding.
Dr. Tulipan recommended psychotherapy as the first line of therapy, a good treatment for mild to moderate PPD. For the more moderate to severe symptoms, medication is recommended, she added, While conventional antidepressants can offer affective treatment, none are approved by Health Canada for PPD.
In December 2025, Canada approved the first treatment for PPD — Zuranolone — which has a more rapid response rate, she said, and fewer side-effects than other treatments, marking a novel shift in care for this condition.
Read more coverage of the 2026 Chronic Disease at Work conference.