Eby pledges perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital
David Eby promised on October 14 to fund a unit at B.C. Women's Hospital where new parents in a mental health crisis could be treated alongside their babies.
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BC NDP leader David Eby pledged on October 14 to fund a dedicated perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital, CBC News reported. The unit would allow new parents in a mental health crisis to receive inpatient psychiatric care while staying with their babies.
Right now, according to Clare Zeschky, executive director of the Pacific Post Partum Support Society, as reported by CBC, there are no facilities in B.C. that allow a parent to receive inpatient psychiatric care alongside their baby. Parents who need hospital-level mental health care must currently leave their newborn behind, which the NDP says discourages people from seeking help.
"No mother wants to choose between going to the hospital to receive the care she needs to get well and staying with her baby," said Kiri Bird, co-founder of the non-profit In Her Circle, in CBC's report.
In Her Circle was founded by friends and family of Jenna Dorman, who died by suicide in November 2024 after experiencing severe postpartum mental health challenges. The non-profit had been calling for a dedicated unit at B.C. Women's Hospital.
How common are the challenges this would address
A Statistics Canada 2024 national survey found that 56 per cent of B.C. mothers and birthing parents reported emotional or mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum. Of those who reported challenges in B.C., 64 per cent said the challenges began after birth, according to CBC.
What else the NDP promised
The perinatal unit was part of a broader BC NDP women's health strategy. The party also promised expanded PharmaCare coverage for alternative menopause treatments for women who cannot use hormone therapy. A third commitment would improve access to vaginal estrogen through pharmacists to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.
Eby said the goal is to engage with practitioners and women to identify and close gaps in health care.
What other parties said
The BC Green Party said in a statement that in 2024 it called on the NDP government to update the province's women's health report, which it says has not been updated since 2011. "We're glad the NDP is finally listening, but women shouldn't have to wait for an election campaign to get the care they need," the Greens said.
The BC Conservative Party said in an email to CBC that "people deserve better." CentreBC leader Elenore Sturko said her party would include free counselling for people who need it. OneBC said it is not taking Eby's pledge seriously.
MLA Jody Toor, now running for re-election in Langley-Willowbrook, introduced a private member's bill on perinatal and postnatal mental health care in March 2025. Toor told CBC the announcement was overdue.
Voting day is October 24. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21. You can find your voting place and check your registration at Elections BC. The full list of BC provincial candidates is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 to reach Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline.
Questions this story answers
What did Eby promise about perinatal mental health?
David Eby pledged on October 14, as reported by CBC, to fund a dedicated perinatal mental health unit at B.C. Women's Hospital. The unit would let new parents receive inpatient psychiatric care without being separated from their babies. The BC NDP says no facility in B.C. currently offers this, meaning parents facing a mental health crisis must choose between getting hospital care and staying with their newborn.
What is a perinatal mental health unit?
A perinatal mental health unit is a hospital ward where new parents in a serious mental health crisis can receive inpatient care while their baby stays with them. Right now, according to Clare Zeschky of the Pacific Post Partum Support Society, as reported by CBC, there are no facilities in B.C. that allow this. Parents needing psychiatric hospital care must currently leave their babies behind.
How common are postpartum mental health challenges in B.C.?
A Statistics Canada 2024 national survey found that 56 per cent of B.C. mothers and birthing parents reported emotional or mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum. Of those who reported challenges in B.C., 64 per cent said the challenges began after birth, according to CBC's report on the announcement.
What else is in the BC NDP women's health strategy?
The BC NDP also promised expanded PharmaCare coverage for menopause treatments for women who cannot use hormone therapy, and improved access to vaginal estrogen through pharmacists to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections and relieve discomfort. The party says the goal is to reduce treatment and diagnostic delays and strengthen community reproductive and sexual health services.
What did other parties say about this commitment?
The BC Green Party said it had called for the NDP government to update the province's women's health report in 2024 and welcomed the announcement but said women should not have to wait for an election campaign to get care they need. The BC Conservative Party said in an email to CBC that people deserve better. CentreBC leader Elenore Sturko said her party's approach would include free counselling for people who need it. OneBC said it is not taking Eby's pledge seriously.
Is this a new commitment from Eby?
The commitment builds on existing advocacy. In March 2025, MLA Jody Toor, now running in Langley-Willowbrook, introduced a private member's bill calling for a perinatal and postnatal mental health strategy. Toor told CBC the announcement was overdue. The non-profit In Her Circle, founded by friends and family of Jenna Dorman who died by suicide after severe postpartum mental health challenges in 2024, had been advocating for a unit at B.C. Women's Hospital.
When and where did Eby make this announcement?
Eby made the announcement on Tuesday, October 14, 2026, as reported by CBC. It was part of the BC NDP's broader women's health strategy commitment, released with ten days left before voting day on October 24.
How can I vote in the BC provincial election?
Voting day is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21. You can find your voting place and check your registration at the Elections BC page. The BC provincial election candidates list is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates.
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