Two Barrie moms on a mission to advance perinatal mental health

Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC)

Access to care is a major issue in perinatal mental health. Looking for a solution, two moms from Barrie, Ontario teamed up in 2019 to form the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC): an organization that advocates for and raises awareness about the need for increased access and more timely perinatal mental health services.

“We started out as just the two of us in a coffee shop, but have evolved into a movement of experts, advocates, and leaders in perinatal mental health from across Canada,” says Patricia Tomasi, co-Executive Director. “We’re already starting to see policy and practice changes.”

In 2022, CPMHC led its first Flora’s Walk campaign in 20 Canadian cities. Named after a woman who died as a result of postpartum psychosis, this event is a rallying cry for leaders and people with lived experience alike.

At the Ottawa walk, there was government recognition for World Maternal Mental Health Day, as well as an in-person meeting with the Prime Minister. In 2023, Flora’s Walk will take place in 40 cities.

As a young organization, CPMHC is trying to build its capacity to advocate effectively. “It can be really difficult when you finally get an issue before government and it gets dismissed or there isn’t any follow-through,” notes Jaime Charlebois, co-Executive Director. “There are so many competing priorities like COVID and the opioid epidemic, and we just need to take more time to speak with decision makers and build awareness.”

This past year, CPMHC developed a new strategic plan, formed a new Board of Directors, and strengthened their skills in government relations. Looking ahead, they plan to catalyze and train provincial and territorial advocacy chapters. “We want to help increase the capacity of advocates at the local level as they communicate with MPs and MPPs, while strengthening our collective voice nationally.”