Our Story

The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC) was launched in the fall of 2019 by two “Barrie moms on a mission”, Patricia Tomasi and Jaime Charlebois.

Both Patricia and Jaime suffered from perinatal mental illness and vowed to make a difference so that future moms, dads, partners, birthing persons and families wouldn’t have to suffer again.

What We’ve Accomplished Together

“Timely access to perinatal mental health care” was included on the mandate letter for the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in 2021 and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a meeting with CPMHC following Flora’s Walk in Ottawa 2022 where he promised his government would deliver. 

Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health took place in 50 cities across Canada raising funds and awareness for organizations to deliver timely access to perinatal mental health services.

At the 2023 Flora’s Walk in Ottawa, the government announced funding from Health Canada to support the development of Canada’s first ever clinical perinatal mental health guidelines published in 2025.

We edited and created You Are Not Alone: An anthology of perinatal mental health stories from conception to postpartum.