Pregnancy and new parenthood can be overwhelming.

If you're not feeling like yourself, you're not alone.

A woman with dark hair tied back, sitting on the floor in a kitchen, holding a crying baby with pacifier, as she looks at the washing machine door. The kitchen has wooden cabinets, a window showing evening sky, and various kitchen items on countertops.
A woman with dark hair tied back, sitting on the floor in a kitchen, holding a crying baby with pacifier, as she looks at the washing machine door. The kitchen has wooden cabinets, a window showing evening sky, and various kitchen items on countertops.

Depression and anxiety affect about 1 in 5 people during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These feelings are common; they are not your fault, and effective support exists. The MOVIN Study is looking for people across Ontario who are struggling with anxiety or depression during pregnancy or after having a baby. Study participants may be able to access mental health support at no cost — and help us improve care for thousands of families in the future.

See if you're eligible

About the MOVIN Study

The MOVIN Study is a clinical trial led by Dr. Simone Vigod and Dr. Noah Ivers at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. MOVIN — the Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health Optimization Virtual Intervention Network — is a virtual care program built with input from people with lived experience of perinatal mental illness and from healthcare providers across Ontario, Canada. A pilot trial completed in 2022 showed promising early results. Participants who received the MOVIN intervention had fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than a control group by the end of the study period. This larger trial will look at whether those results hold across all of Ontario, Canada.

Who is this for?

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18 years of age or older

  • Are currently pregnant, or gave birth within the past 6 months

  • Identify as a woman, or are of female sex and are the primary parent of your infant (including through birth, adoption, or surrogacy)

  • Are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression

  • Have a family doctor or nurse practitioner

  • Live in Ontario and plan to stay in Ontario for the duration of the study

The pre-screening survey takes less than ten minutes and will tell you right away whether you may be eligible.

A woman with tattoos on her arms wearing a black shirt and white pants is kneeling and organizing baskets filled with folded towels on a wooden shelf in a bright room with white walls and windows.
See if you're eligible
What's Involved?

This is a randomized controlled trial. That means that if you are eligible and agree to participate, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. You will not be able to choose your group, and neither will the research team. Each group has an equal chance of assignment.

Outline icon of a smartphone with a medical cross on the screen and a hand touching the screen, representing mobile health or telemedicine.

Group 1 — The MOVIN Platform

Participants in this group continue receiving care from their own healthcare provider. They can also access the MOVIN platform, a web-based tool designed to help people understand and manage their mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Through the platform, participants can:

  • Screen themselves at any time. The self-screening tool assesses symptoms of depression and anxiety. After screening, participants receive a brief explanation of what their score means and relevant resource suggestions.

  • Explore a comprehensive resource library. The MOVIN Knowledge Centre includes resources on: perinatal mental health, pregnancy and parenting, relationships, and self-care. Topics range from anxiety, depression, and body image to infant feeding, sleep, partner support, and self-compassion. Resources are available in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Chinese, and Hindi, and filters are available for BIPOC, Indigenous, and LGBTQS2+ communities.

  • Find treatment options matched to their needs. The platform includes a directory of care options that can be filtered by symptom severity, treatment type, and much more. This includes self-guided resources, peer support, therapist-led groups, psychotherapy, and specialized psychiatry programs.

The MOVIN platform is accessible by phone or computer, at any time of day.

Line drawing of a smartphone with a doctor in a coat on the screen and a speech bubble with a medical cross.

Group 2 — The MOVIN Program: the MOVIN Platform Plus Personalized Support

Participants in this group receive access to the MOVIN Platform, plus dedicated support from a trained MOVIN Care Coordinator. The Care Coordinator is a health professional with experience in perinatal mental health who will work with participants to build a personalized plan to manage their symptoms.

Care plans are matched to participant needs and may include:

  • Educational resources on perinatal mental health topics, including sleep, body image, infant feeding, and relationships

  • Recommending specific peer support programs, support groups, and psychological therapy options

  • Coordination with your family doctor or nurse practitioner, including advice for them from a MOVIN psychiatrist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum mental health

Care Coordinators will check in with participants regularly and update care plans as participants progress. All care is delivered virtually by phone or video. 

For both groups, taking part means:

Outline of a computer with checklists on the screen and a telephone handset above it.

Completing an online screening questionnaire to confirm eligibility, followed by a phone assessment

Icon of a calendar with pages flipping at the top, representing scheduling or dates.

Participating in the program for 6 months from the time you enroll 

Icon of a clipboard with checkmarks, a pen, and lines representing text.

Completing up to five online questionnaires (at enrollment, at 3 and 6 months after you enroll; some people will also complete questionnaires at 1 and 12 months postpartum)

Outline of a gift card with a bow and a smaller gift box illustration inside.

Receiving gift cards valued between $15 and $25 for completed questionnaires (up to $85 total).

Line drawing of a person on a computer screen with a play button, indicating a video call or online presentation.

All activities are completed virtually — there are no in-person visits required

See if you're eligible
A woman with curly brown hair is holding a baby in a bathroom, looking down at the baby with a gentle expression. The bathroom has beige tiles, a small towel rack with hanging towels, and a black shelving unit with personal care products.

Why this research matters

Mental health support for pregnant and postpartum people in Ontario is hard to access. A 2021 Canada-wide survey found that 42% of patients waited more than two months for perinatal mental health services; many waited much longer. In some parts of Ontario, specialized care is simply not available. People who are least likely to receive timely support include those with lower incomes, those living in rural or remote communities, and racialized individuals.

Effective treatments exist. The challenge is access. By participating in the MOVIN Study, you contribute to research that could change how perinatal mental health care is delivered across Canada — and depending on which group you are assigned to, you may receive personalized support for your own mental health right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All participants receive access to the MOVIN platform, which includes a self-screening tool, a curated resource library, and a directory of treatment options organized by symptom severity, type, and format. Because this is a randomized controlled trial, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Participants in Group 2 also receive support from a trained MOVIN Care Coordinator, who works with you to build and adjust a personalized care plan throughout the study. Participants in Group 1 use the platform independently, alongside their usual care.

  • No. You do not need to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression to take part in the MOVIN Study. The study is open to anyone whose symptoms meet the eligibility criteria, whether or not they have received a formal diagnosis. If you are experiencing symptoms that are affecting your wellbeing during pregnancy or the postpartum period, we encourage you to complete the pre-screening survey to find out if you’re eligible to participate.

  • MOVIN follows a stepped-care approach, meaning the recommendations you receive are matched to your level of need and the severity of your symptoms. Intervention recommendations are tagged by severity level in the MOVIN platform, and for those in Group 2, the care coordinator's recommendations also follow this approach. Whichever Group you are in, if you have very severe symptoms that require urgent or specialized psychiatric care, the study team can help connect you with appropriate resources. The study is not designed for people who are in an active psychiatric crisis. If you are in crisis, please call or text 9-8-8 (Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also proceed to your nearest emergency department. 

  • MOVIN does not prescribe or manage medication. If medication is appropriate for your situation and you are in Group 2 (MOVIN program with personalized support), the Care Coordinator can help facilitate communication with your primary care provider. All decisions about medication remain with you and your prescribing provider.

  • If you are assigned to Group 2, your primary care provider will receive a letter letting them know you are participating. Coordination with your primary care provider is a core part of how the Group 2 personalized care program works.

  • Yes. Participating in the MOVIN Study does not restrict your access to any other healthcare services. You are always free to seek support through your own healthcare provider. If your needs change significantly during the study, the research team can also help connect you with appropriate resources.

  • Participation is completely voluntary. You can withdraw from the study at any time with no impact on your healthcare. You do not have to provide a reason for withdrawing.

  • The MOVIN platform supports Google Translate and language interpretation services are available for calls with the Care Coordinator. However, the study questionnaires must be completed in English. If completing online written questionnaires in English is a significant barrier for you, you would not be eligible at this time.

  • Yes. All study data is stored on a secure, encrypted platform hosted in Canada. Your information will not be shared with anyone outside the research team without your consent, except as required by law. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at Women's College Hospital.

Ready to Find Out if You’re Eligible?

The pre-screening form takes less than 10 minutes. If you appear to be eligible, a member of the research team will contact you to walk you through the next steps and answer any questions before you decide whether to participate.

See if you're eligible

*Read our privacy policy to learn how we use and store the data we collect.