The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative is holding its second annual national fundraiser walkathon – Flora’s Walk – on May 3rd, 2023 coinciding with World Maternal Mental Health Day.
40 cities across Canada from Whitehorse to Halifax will be participating in Flora’s Walk during the first week of May. To find a walk happening near you, go to FlorasWalk.ca and scroll down to “Search Teams”.
You can also donate at FlorasWalk.ca and create your own fundraising page.
Want to know exactly when, where, and at what time Flora’s Walk is happening in your city? Download our pdf right here:
The walk is named after Flora Babakhani, a Canadian mom who tragically lost her life to undetected and untreated postpartum psychosis on January 14th, 2022. Read Flora’s story here: https://cpmhc.ca/floras-story/
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett will be speaking at the opening ceremony at the Flora’s Walk event in Ottawa which will be taking place inside the Valour Building at 151 Sparks St. at 9 am. MPP Bhutila Karpoche will be speaking at the opening ceremony in Toronto.
**To attend the opening ceremony in Ottawa inside the Valour Building or in Toronto inside the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park, you will need to sign up via evenbrite at FlorasWalk.ca.**
“We want to make sure what happened to Flora never happens again” says Patricia Tomasi, CPMHC Co-Executive Director. “If Flora had been properly assessed and treated, it’s highly possible she would still be with us today.”
At a rate 1-2 in 1000 and rising, postpartum psychosis is the most severe form of perinatal mental illness. It’s one of several perinatal mental illnesses that can befall a new mother including the more widely known condition of postpartum depression.
“The rate of perinatal mental illness has risen from 1 in 5 pre-pandemic to 1 in 3 and rates are higher for Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people,” says Jaime Charlebois, CPMHC Co-Executive Director. “Canadians need timely access to treatment now more than ever.”
This year, the CPMHC is hoping to raise $150,000 for community perinatal mental health programs and advocacy chapters across Canada.
