Conclusions
Our person-centred approaches to understanding maternal mental health during times of crisis like COVID-19 provides a more precise description of how mothers are functioning. We found that maternal mental health is not stable as most of the mothers in our sample experienced a shift in mental health profile prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, in times of crisis, the unique mental health subgroups identified in low-income mothers are subject to change and should therefore continue to be examined over time. Overall, the findings of this study underscore the need for a nuanced and tailored approach to understanding and addressing mental health among mothers. Practitioners should recognize the heterogeneity of mental health, consider the impact of external events, and use exploratory approaches better to understand the diverse profiles of mental health among mothers. By tailoring interventions and regularly monitoring mental health, practitioners can effectively support mothers’ mental health, particularly those who are low-income, and promote positive mental health outcomes. Finally, it provides important information that might assist in triaging resources to support mothers who are in the most need of support.