Introducing to SVP: Pacific Postpartum Support Society

Discovery phase: Approved for Series A multi-year funding

About Pacific Postpartum Support Society

Pacific Postpartum Support Society (PPPSS) provides free, peer-led perinatal mental health support to new and expecting parents and their families across British Columbia. Founded in 1971 by volunteers who recognized a critical gap in postpartum mental health care, PPPSS has grown from a grassroots initiative into a trusted, province-wide support system for families navigating the profound transition into parenthood.

PPPSS’s 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.Through low-barrier, compassionate, and culturally responsive support, the organization ensures that parents do not have to face these challenges alone.

Why Their Work Matters

Perinatal mental health challenges are both common and deeply consequential—for parents and for their children. In British Columbia, one in three birthing parents experiences postpartum depression or anxiety, yet access to clinical mental health services is often delayed by waitlists of six months or longer.

Without timely support, parents may experience prolonged distress, isolation, and difficulty bonding—factors that can affect family well-being and a child’s early development. These early years are foundational. Supporting parents’ mental health is a powerful form of early intervention that helps create safer, more stable environments for children to grow and thrive.

PPPSS fills a critical gap by offering free, immediate, peer-based support—meeting families where they are, without the need for diagnosis or referral, and at a moment when help can make the greatest difference.

What Pacific Postpartum Support Society Does

At PPPSS, parents are offered a range of peer-led support designed to reduce isolation, strengthen emotional well-being, and connect families to care. Parents can self-refer or be referred by health care providers and are welcomed through a warm, conversational intake process.

Support is grounded in lived experience, trauma-informed practice, and cultural safety. Services are available across B.C., with growing efforts to reach rural, remote, and underserved communities.

In 2024 alone, PPPSS responded to more than 6,000 calls and texts and supported over 300 parents through structured peer support groups—demonstrating both the scale of need and the organization’s ability to respond effectively.

Key Activities 

• Phone and text support line: Free, low-barrier emotional support available weekdays, offering timely connection when parents need it most.
• Peer-led support groups: Online and in-person groups providing structured, relational support until the child is 18 months or as long as parents need support.
• Volunteer training and mentorship: Comprehensive training for volunteers with lived experience, strengthening program quality and sustainability.
• Multilingual and inclusive services: Ongoing expansion of language options and culturally responsive programming to better serve diverse families.
• Community outreach and education: Partnerships with public health nurses, midwives, and community organizations to raise awareness and improve access to perinatal mental health support.

With SVP Vancouver’s support, Promise plans to accomplish the following over the next three years: 

• Expand access to perinatal mental health support across B.C., with a focus on rural, remote, and underserved communities.
• Strengthen leadership and organizational resilience through succession planning, mentorship, and role clarity during growth.
• Build sustainable fundraising systems to reduce reliance on one-time funding and support long-term service delivery.
• Enhance volunteer training and capacity, including multilingual supports, to reduce waitlists and improve service quality.
• Strengthen impact measurement and advocacy, using data to demonstrate outcomes and inform funding and policy efforts.

How SVP Will Help: 

SVP Vancouver’s partnership will focus on strengthening PPPSS’s organizational foundation so the organization can meet growing demand and extend its impact to more families. This includes:

• Fund Development: Building sustainable fundraising systems and diversifying revenue
• Leadership Development and HR Guidance: Coaching and mentorship to support succession planning and organizational resilience
• Social Impact Measurement: Strengthening evaluation tools and partnerships to demonstrate impact and inform growth

This support will enable PPPSS to reduce waitlists, expand access to timely mental health support, and ensure more parents and their children receive the care they need during the earliest and most formative years of life.

Have questions about Pacific Postpartum Support Society, want to get more involved, or learn more about them? Reach out directly with any questions, please contact Helen.