About

Dr. Catriona Hippman, PhD, CGC

I am a Health System Impact Fellow with the BC Ministry of Health's Health Equity unit, and Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Health Sciences. I am also an Adjunct Professor with the UBC Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and a postdoctoral research fellow with the BC Women's Hospital's Reproductive Mental Health Program.

My fellowship is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the BC Ministry of Health, and the BC Women's Health Foundation, and my research work is additionally supported by generous gifts from an anonymous donor and iA Financial Group.

My doctoral work focused on enriching our understanding of how women make decisions about how to care for their mental health during pregnancy. My previous fellowship work has aimed to deepen understandings of the experiences of 1) virtual delivery of parent coaching interventions for early childhood mental health concerns, and 2) hospitalization for postpartum psychiatric illness in Western Canada. In my current fellowship work as a member of the Health Equity unit within the BC Ministry of Health, I am partnering with Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people to expand our understanding of the reproductive health care experiences of these communities.

I am a White settler, I live with panic disorder and recurrent depression, and I am a mother to two children. My own story of struggles and resilience during motherhood can be read at The Good Mother Project. I also trained clinically as a genetic counsellor, and have been a certified genetic counsellor since 2009.

Mission

To improve mental health at times of transition in relation to changes in hormones, epigenetics, physiology, and family composition through community-based research, using an intersectional feminist lens.

Vision

For all people to be mentally healthy at times of transition in relation to changes in hormones, epigenetics, physiology, and family composition.

Values

1) Creativity.

To me, this means joyfully and curiously exploring the world in all its diversity and beauty and using this wonder and learning to fuel the creation of things that others can use or enjoy.

2) Community.

I choose to treat people and our environment with respect, kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and empathy. I choose to find ways to appreciate peoples' differences and to try to create welcoming and inclusive spaces. I make these choices because I want to experience love, joy, trust, and safety, and we all depend on each other.

We are all connected.

Areas of Research Expertise

Perinatal mental health; Health service delivery; Community-based research; Feminist, constructivist research; Pharmacogenetics; Decision-making

Other places to find Dr. Catriona Hippman's work

Blog Series on Reproductive Mental Health:

CREST.BD / WHRI 3-part blog series on Reproductive Health and Bipolar Disorder featuring answers from Dr. Catriona Hippman and Dr. Jehannine Austin. (2022, September 19) Part III: Reproductive Health and Bipolar Disorder: Pregnancy, Living Well & Bipolar. Retrieved from https://www.crestbd.ca/2022/09/19/reproductive-health-and-bipolar-disorder-pregnancy-living-well-bipolar/

CREST.BD / WHRI 3-part blog series on Reproductive Health and Bipolar Disorder featuring answers from Dr. Catriona Hippman and Dr. Jehannine Austin. (2022, August 17) Part II: Reproductive Health and Bipolar Disorder: Medication, Pregnancy & Bipolar [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.crestbd.ca/2022//08/17/reproductive-health-and-bipolar-disorder-medication-pregnancy-bipolar/

CREST.BD / WHRI 3-part blog series on Reproductive Health and Bipolar Disorder featuring answers from Dr. Catriona Hippman and Dr. Jehannine Austin. (2022, July 19) Part I: Periods & Bipolar [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.crestbd.ca/2022/07/19/periods-and-bipolar/

Op-Eds:

Healthy debate article: We have a tool to help prevent suicide during pregnancy and postpartum. Why does the task force recommend against using it?

Interviews:

Newstalk 610 CKTB: Radio Interview for Bell's Let's Talk Day
Podcast with NSGC: Self Care for Genetic Counselors
Podcast with @WomensResearch: Episode 18: Reproductive Mental Health
Video with TalkBD: Pregnancy, Postpartum & Bipolar Disorder

Reports:

Hippman C, on behalf of Life With A Baby Foundation. Maternal mental health: Is Canada doing enough? A review of maternal mental health support across the country. 2020. https://www.lifewithababy.com/blog/9382517

Policy briefs:

Hippman, C., Letourneau, N., Gagnon, L., Carrion, P., Ryan, D. Screening for perinatal depression in Canada. Submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health Study on Women’s Health on Oct. 6, 2023. Published on Oct. 16, 2023 on Women’s Health study webpage of ourcommons.ca. Vancouver, BC: BC Reproductive Mental Health Program.

Clinical Practice Resources:

Mead, A., Ryan, D., Paquette, V., Smith, E., Joshi, P., Tonella, C., Hippman, C. 2023. BC Reproductive Mental Health Program, Provincial Perinatal Substance Use Program, & Perinatal Services BC Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Disorders in the Perinatal Period: Substance Use Disorders. Vancouver, BC: BC Reproductive Mental Health Program.
Carrion, P., Ryan, D., Morgan, M., Hippman, C. Statement affirming the importance of perinatal depression screening in BC. 2022. http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/statement-affirming-the-importance-of-perinatal-depression-screening-in-bc

Page updated

Google Sites