Maternal Mental Health Saskatchewan Advisory Group

MORE BREAKING NEWS! The Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority have filled the PERMANENT, FULL-TIME, PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR position based out of 811, who will lead and coordinate maternal mental health for Saskatchewan!! https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2024/september/26/province-enhances-maternal-mental-health-supports.

Monday, January 26, 2026, Angela and I were honoured to meet with the Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health, to celebrate the now-filled permanent, full-time “Maternal Mental Health Provincial Coordinator” position, and to discuss the exciting goals ahead!

Families across our province have much to celebrate with Sara Beckel accepting this first-of-its-kind-in-Canada role! 🎉 Sara is truly one of a kind, too, having devoted more than 10 years to advocating for and supporting individuals and families impacted by anxiety, depression, OCD, and or psychosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Helping people navigate some of their most vulnerable moments and guiding them toward hope has always been at the heart of Sara’s work. Now, she will be doing just that on an even grander scale — creating lasting, meaningful change for families throughout our province. 💛

Photo: Left to right, people instrumental in the creation and future growth of the Provincial Maternal Mental Health Coordinator position:

  • Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health
  • Sara Beckel, Coordinator, Provincial Maternal Mental Health | HealthLine 811, SHA
  • Marlee Fair, SHA, Director – Provincial HealthLine 811 Program and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), SHA
  • Elita Paterson, co-Chair, SK Maternal Mental Health Advisory Group
  • Rod Mackenzie, Executive Director, Provincial Programs – Community Care, SHA
  • Zoe Teed McKay, Director, Mental Health And Addictions Community Services, SHA
  • Background on Screen:
  • Angela Bowen, co-Chair, SK Maternal Mental Health Advisory Group
  • Missing:
  • Jocelyn LeBlond, Director, Mental Health and Addictions (Interagency Initiative), MOH
  • Jeff James, Senior Program Consultant, Mental Health and Addictions Branch, MOH

WHO WE ARE:

The Maternal Mental Health Strategy Saskatchewan Advisory Group are advocates and healthcare providers improving awareness, and recommending policy updates for people who suffer from depression and or anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), psychosis or more during pregnancy and postpartum. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are treatable!

Angela Bowen – Co-Chair, and SK Maternal Mental Health Strategy, Project Manager angela.bowen@usask.ca

Elita Paterson – Co-Chair, and SK Maternal Mental Health Strategy Public Representative elita.paterson@uregina.ca

Veronica Bear – Registered Social Worker, Saskatchewan Health Authority

Sara Beckel – Coordinator, Provincial Maternal Mental Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority

Kayla Bell – Co-Owner of Mother May I & Past SK Chapter Lead of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC)

Lin Carr – Saskatchewan Perinatal Health Network

Rashmi Tandukar Bhaukaji – Perinatal and Infant Health Program Coordinator, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute

Lindsay Gareau – Owner of Prairie Heart Counselling & the I Love You More Wellness Centre, Regina, SK

Morag Granger (Retired) – Public Health Nursing Consultant

Rona Hadley-Cole – Public Health Nurse

Amanda Harder – Founder, Mothers Empowering Mothers Inc., Saskatoon’s Postpartum Support Group

Ally Hrbachek – Advocate & Owner/Baker/Educator, Ally’s Cake Creeations

Kim Larson-Semenuik – Clinical Social Worker, Climb Counselling & Consulting

Jessica Kitchemonia – Advocate from Southeast Five Hills

Cara Maher – Manager, Provincial HealthLine 811

Phyllis O’Connor (Retired) – Past Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Saskatchewan Division

Online Therapy Unit, University of Regina

Loreli Palandri – Co-Owner of Seed to Sprout & Registered Nurse

Monica Totton – Past Executive Director, Regina Early Learning Centre

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to raise a parent, and elevate government policy!