Pacific Post Partum Support Society is a small, non-profit charitable organization that has been providing mental health and emotional support to new parents and families since 1971. The program started as a grass roots initiative when a small group of mothers began meeting at the Vancouver Crisis Line office to share their experiences and support each other.
At the time, our peer support model of care was a new approach to addressing the issues of postpartum depression, and is one that has since influenced changes in postpartum support. Over the years, our programs have expanded and shifted based on the needs of the communities we serve.
Today, we support anyone who is experiencing isolation, distress, or a PMAD in the perinatal period or is supporting someone who is. This includes pregnant people, new parents, mothers, fathers, partners, non-gestational parents, surrogates, adoptive parents, foster parents, and people who have experienced perinatal or infant loss. We receive over 6000 calls to our support line per year, and that number continues to grow. If you are pregnant, have a child under the age of 3, have recently been pregnant, or have experienced loss, we are available to support you.
Our mission is to end the isolation and distress experienced by many parents and families with the profound life change that accompanies the birth or adoption of a child.
We believe that postpartum depression or anxiety is a multi-dimensional problem, with social factors such as discrimination and oppression, isolation, lack of child-care, and the stressful nature of mothering/parenting playing important contributing roles.
We believe that through mutual aid and emotional support, women and parents are empowered to engineer their own recovery and to learn skills of self-care which encourage healthy life choices for themselves and their families.
We believe that it is healing for a woman/parent with postpartum depression and/or anxiety to share their experiences, in confidence, and to receive non-judgmental support and understanding from those who have resolved, or who are in the process of resolving, their own depression.
Our staff are passionate, dedicated, and committed to supporting new parents and families in the perinatal period. All of our staff are parents, and many have experienced a tough adjustment to parenthood. You can learn more about our staff here
We have a volunteer Board of Directors. Our board is an active part of our Society and is made up of people who have a keen interest in perinatal mental health and are committed to supporting our mission. If you are interested in joining our board, see our Support PPPSS page. You can learn more about our board members here.
Without our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do. Volunteers offer their strengths, skills, and time to support us in many areas of our work. To learn more, check out our volunteer page.
Our partners and funders are instrumental in supporting us to realize our mission. We have ongoing partnerships with various organizations, including BC Reproductive Mental Health programs, community family drop-in centers, community public health nurses, general practitioners, registered clinical counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, BC Midwives, and Postpartum Doulas.
Our funding support comes from a wide variety of sources, including government agencies, foundations, corporations, and individual donors/members. We are grateful for this ongoing support and thank each of our donors for their contribution to our Society. If you are interested in partnering with us or supporting us financially, see our For Care Providers and Support PPPSS pages.
Our staff members are the life of PPPSS. They are passionate and dedicated, and believe new parents and families should receive the support they deserve.
DIRECTOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
PROGRAM MANAGER
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
COUNSELLOR AND GROUP FACILITATOR
BOARD CHAIR
BOARD DIRECTOR
BOARD DIRECTOR
BOARD DIRECTOR & TREASURER
BOARD DIRECTOR
BOARD DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY
BOARD DIRECTOR, PAST TREASURER
BOARD DIRECTOR
BOARD DIRECTOR
Pacific Post Partum Support Society is located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and occupied territories of the xʷməθkʷiy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Stó:lō First Nations.
Director
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Shealagh first made contact with PPPSS when she was struggling in silence as a new mother. After seeing a brochure, she called in and ended up speaking with Sheila.That one phone call made a huge impact in her recovery and gave her insight into her condition. This inspired her to join PPPSS in 1998 as a counsellor and group facilitator. She is also a registered holistic nutritionist (RHN) with personal coaching experience, and is currently training in menopausal support. Staff count on Shealagh for her grounded presence in the office and in her work.
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Rita joined PPPSS in 2008. She has worked at the Crisis Line and at the Justice Institute of BC in family conflict resolution. Rita first developed an interest in women’s health while working at the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective, and this experience led to an instant connection with the work being done by PPPSS. She works as a group facilitator, phone counsellor, and outreach educator. Rita is willing to slide into wherever she is needed, and is a steady, dependable team member.
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Program Manager
Clare Zeschky (she/her) is the Program Manager at the Pacific Post Partum Support Society. Like all the staff at PPPSS, she came to the organisation with lived experience of PPD/A which motivated her commitment to peer support.
Clare loves providing group support and training workshops but the huge surge in need during the pandemic led her to discover a passion for guiding the growth and development of the organisation, and perinatal mental health in general.
She has a secret love of Excel and a less secret love of tea.
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Counsellor and Group Facilitator
Board Director
Erin Arnold has worked for various government ministries since 1998. Erin holds a graduate certificate in complex trauma and child sexual abuse intervention, an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care Counselling, completed graduate work in Leadership and has over 27 years of facilitation. Erin has managed multi-year government contracts, organized and executed large public events and assisted in drafting public policy on various progressive issues.
Erin is passionate about volunteering in her community and has done so in a variety of capacities. Key areas of interest are women’s rights, maternal mental health, trauma informed programs and refugee services. Erin holds various board positions on subjects ranging from public education, mental health, addressing family poverty etc.
Erin is a mother, leader, survivor, social justice advocate and change-maker.
Board Director
Dr. Christine Ou (RN, PhD) is an Assistant Professor at the UVic School of Nursing. As a pediatric registered nurse, she focuses her research on the sleep and mental health of families with infants and young children.
Board Director
Dan brings over 25 years of technology leadership, project delivery, and change management experience to his role on the board of PPPSS. Dan’s career includes leadership and executive roles in space robotics, restaurant, financial, and healthcare technology companies. He is currently a senior software leader at Jane App. Dan has been working with PPPSS since 2017 on IT-related initiatives and projects, including the rollout of the iCarol-based SMS support platform, transformation of PPPSS into a remote-first organisation, and cybersecurity. Dan is a husband and father of three daughters, and is honoured to be able to give back to an important organisation like PPPSS.
Board Director & Treasurer
Ed is a chartered accountant who serves clients in the mining and capital markets sectors, providing audit and assurance services. He has worked with BDO for over 12 years across multiple countries and now works with the Canadian firm in downtown Vancouver. Originally from the UK, Ed has a strong background in audit, financial reporting, and project management. Passionate about mentorship, parental, and community support, Ed joined the Board as treasurer to lend his financial reporting and accounting skills to the organization. Ed also supports some organizations focused on social mobility with mentorship of young people. Otherwise he spends time with his family and young son while trying to squeeze in some running, cycling, and hiking in the local area.
Board Director
Yishan first engaged with PPPSS when she became a mom and was forever grateful for the support that PPPSS provided during a very difficult period of her life. She wanted to be part of this amazing organization and support any new parents who might also find this new chapter more challenging than they have expected.
Yishan is a Human Resources professional working in the mining industry.
Board Director
Caitlin works as a registered midwife in Vancouver and was also recently certified as a lactation consultant. She has frontline experience with the challenges new parents face in the weeks following a birth. This is a time when families need a lot of support and, especially in light of the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Caitlin wanted to get involved by supporting the work of PPPSS. When she’s not working, Caitlin is busy with her toddler and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Board Director, Past Treasurer
Ruth was recruited in 1990 for an office support volunteer position by her mother, Shauna Little, who was Treasurer of the Board at the time. Ruth later became Treasurer of the Board herself, and has been PPPSS’s book sales volunteer, office bookkeeper, and Go-For for several years.
Board Director
Emily was interested in working with PPPSS after seeing the amazing support that they offer postpartum families. As a Public Health Nurse, Emily has the privilege of working alongside parents first hand as they navigate the challenges of the postpartum period. PPPSS is a resource that she discusses with clients regularly, and with her passion for perinatal mental health, she is excited to be supporting such a values based organization. When she’s not chasing her two kiddos around, she is happiest swimming at the pool, camping or reading a good book.
Board Director
Sarah is a marketing and fundraising strategist with deep roots in the nonprofit sector. She has led six-figure sponsorships, donor engagement strategies, and mission-driven campaigns that create real impact. A Marketing Magazine 30 Under 30 honoree, she has contributed to award-winning teams recognized by Cassies Gold and BCAMA’s Marketer of the Year.
A certified doula with trauma-informed training, Sarah brings empathy, structure, and accessibility to every initiative. As a neurodivergent professional, she prioritizes connection and clarity, helping nonprofits build trust, deepen relationships, and sustain long-term support. She is passionate about supporting parents and communities through meaningful, evidence-based engagement.
Manager of Administration
