Our Story

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.

The CPMHC now includes thousands of supporters from across Canada working together to advocate for a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy. Join our efforts by becoming a member of a CPMHC Provincial/Territorial Chapter and by joining our National Coalition.

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 is the CPMHC’s annual fundraiser that takes 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. CPMHC is working with Women’s College Hospital on the guidelines which will be released in the fall of 2024.

While we are thrilled with the progress being made, we are still pushing hard for a national strategy that will ensure the guidelines are properly implemented.

We are also continuing to raise awareness of perinatal mental health and begin filling the gaps ourselves with our new Patient Navigator service coming online in January 2025.

“In order to solve the mental health crisis, we require a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy that ensures every Canadian involved in the conception and birth of a child receives universal screening and timely access to perinatal mental health care. A strategy would not only improve a person’s experience of pregnancy and postpartum, it also sets the stage for a mentally healthy childhood that will reduce the likelihood and rates of mental illness in adulthood. We need to take action now to safeguard the mental wellbeing of future generations.” — CPMHC Executive Director, Patricia Tomasi