Evaluating the associations between maternal mental health and opioid use disorder in Saskatchewan

The relationship between maternal mental health and opioid use is a complex one and adversely impacts maternal and infant health. Opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and infant health outcomes including maternal death, preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal abstinence syndrome and poor fetal growth. Substance use disorders (SUD), including OUD, commonly co-occur with mental health conditions. Individuals with mental health conditions, including anxiety, mood disorders, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, are at a higher risk of developing a SUD compared to those without a mental health condition and vice versa. Untreated SUD and maternal mental conditions are linked to higher risk pregnancies and poor health outcomes for both the parent and infant. This project aims to understand and quantify the relationship between maternal mental health and OUD in Saskatchewan between 2017 – 2025, including the point prevalence, incidence and evolution of co-occurrence of OUD and mental health conditions in the perinatal population. Our project hopes to contribute to the development of interventions and clinical guidelines that support maternal health, including programs addressing both OUD maternal mental health.