Mental Health Language Removed from a Midwife's Scope of Practice
- Alix Bacon
- Nov 11
- 2 min read
All healthcare providers are governed by legislation called the Healthcare Professions and Occupations Act. A new version of the act will come into effect April 1/26. Midwives were the only profession in BC to have their scope micromanaged in legislation, and there have been some subtle but worrisome changes to the language around our scope in the new act. All references to counselling and mental health healthcare have been removed from our scope which now specifies we provide physical care only. This would be antithetical to holistic care and quite alarming at a time when access to reproductive mental health care is at an all time low. In my community 4/5 people I’ve referred have simply been given a list of resources. One individual I referred on May 7 got an appointment from March 6! In Victoria, midwives can no longer refer their clients to the reproductive mental health team!
Pregnant folks with ADHD Autism & AuDHD face much higher rates of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and are at risk for more negative outcomes. They need access to mental health support. My practice is the only practice in the country specializing in the intersection of neurodivergence and pregnancy- I fear that this language may put my clients at risk. Even for clients of other neurotypes midwives play a key role in recognizing mental health concerns and helping clients navigate everything from miscarriage, birth trauma, birthing as a survivor of sexual abuse, to postpartum depression and anxiety.
MLA Jody Toor presented a bill around perinatal mental health that passed unanimously in March/25 but to date there is support but no plan yet to improve services.
Minister Osborne has said the new language will not preclude midwives from providing the counselling and mental health services we have always offered, but I remain concerned. I hope that when our scope is reconsidered as a profession in January that they will change the language to reflect the holistic services midwives provide. Thanks @katiederosa and @cbc for the story & MABC, Adrienne Carruthers RM, Jodi Toor & @annikenchadwick for your advocacy.
Want to take action? Write your MLA. email me for a template letter
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