Having a baby brings a multitude of changes to a mother’s life. For nearly 80% of moms, that includes struggling with mental health — the most common postpartum challenge, which can lead to long-term social and financial difficulties for families and communities.
Additionally, expecting and new mothers with mental health challenges face numerous barriers when it comes to getting the care they need: unpredictable schedules, lack of access to providers, and time constraints. Overcoming these challenges and connecting them early on with mental health support can improve their well-being as well as that of their child.
Sorenson Impact Institute’s impact investing team is always on the lookout for companies with innovative solutions for social and economic well-being. Among our recent additions is Canopie, which works with healthcare providers to connect expecting and new moms with evidence-based care, as well as remote screening, monitoring, and referral services. Canopie’s “treatment as prevention” digital platform includes personal stories from real parents and tips for managing common parenting obstacles, including balancing work and maintaining a sense of identity. It also connects parents in crisis to emergency support.
We spoke with Anne Wanlund, CEO of Canopie, about how the company is working with providers, nonprofit organizations, and government programs to change approaches to maternal mental health, connect families with resources and care, and reduce long-term personal and financial costs. The idea for Canopie stemmed from Anne’s experience with mental health issues as an expecting mother working in Tanzania and her desire to support other women as they navigate early motherhood.
Anne Wanlund shared her insights on how Canopie builds on her professional experience in public health and personal experience as a new mother. She emphasized the importance of understanding the shared experiences of motherhood across cultures worldwide and how deeply mental health shapes all aspects of maternal health and well-being.
Providers play a crucial role in advancing Canopie from an idea to an entrepreneurial reality that connects users with evidence-based mental health services. Anne highlighted the importance of working with providers to understand why and how specific interventions work and what barriers exist to identifying and delivering mental health support.
In terms of funding, Anne expressed her gratitude for the support from Sorenson Impact, emphasizing the importance of working with funders who align with Canopie’s values around health equity and impact. She highlighted the various sources of funding Canopie has received, totaling close to $4 million to date, and the significance of staying true to the company’s mission amidst funding challenges.
Digital products like Canopie play a crucial role in meeting the growing needs for mental health care and creating a more equitable and sustainable health care system. Anne emphasized that good digital products enhance meaningful human connections and promote care-seeking behaviors, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and decreased costs of care.
Expecting and new moms face numerous barriers when accessing perinatal care, both mental and physical. Anne highlighted the societal stigma around mental health support for mothers and the lack of screening for conditions like prenatal anxiety. She emphasized the long-term effects of poor maternal mental health on families, communities, and society as a whole.
Anne shared a real-world example of the benefits of Canopie for providers and patients, highlighting how the platform removes barriers to accessing mental health support and offers on-demand, evidence-based care. She emphasized the importance of expanding support options for moms and providing a community element to combat isolation and promote connection.
Looking to the future, Anne expressed her hopes for Canopie to continue connecting moms with high-quality, inclusive, and accessible care, working with providers, non-profit organizations, and government programs. She emphasized the importance of trust, engagement, and impact in driving the company’s growth and impact on maternal mental health.
In conclusion, Canopie is making significant strides in addressing the care gap for expecting and new mothers, focusing on mental health and well-being. Through innovative solutions and a commitment to health equity, Canopie is paving the way for a more supportive and connected approach to maternal mental health care.
