Team Muskoka Flora’s Walk will take place in Morrison Meadows Park on May 4th to raise funds and awareness for perinatal mental health care in Canada.
75% of the funds raised by Team Muskoka will be utilized locally for perinatal mental health programs.
Canadian mom, Flora Babakhani’s lifelong dream was to be a mother. At 44 years old, after years of fertility treatments, Flora finally and happily became pregnant. Tragically, on January 14th 2022, two months and ten days after Flora gave birth to her daughter Amber, she died by suicide due to undiagnosed postpartum psychosis.
The Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC) is holding its third annual national fundraiser walkathon in over 40 cities across Canada during the first week of May, World Maternal Mental Health Week. World Maternal Mental Health Day is May 1st, 2024.
WHAT: Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health
WHERE: Morrison Meadows Park, Bracebridge Ontario
WHEN: Saturday, May 4th 2024 @ 10AM
ACTIVITIES: Walkers will meet at above location; snack and drinks will be provided, short opening statements/ speeches, followed by walk, silent auction, games and EarlyOn activities.
“This shouldn’t have happened,” says Patricia Tomasi, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of CPMHC. “We can never say for sure, but we know that if Flora had been properly assessed and treated for perinatal mental illness, it’s highly possible she would still be with us here today and her baby would still have her mother.”
Postpartum psychosis happens to approximately 1-2 in 1000 moms and birthing people. It is one of the rarest perinatal mental health disorders along the perinatal mental illness spectrum but is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Symptoms can include paranoia, hyperactivity, rapid mood swings, and delusions or strange beliefs.
The rate of perinatal mental illness has risen from 1 in 5 pre-pandemic to 1 in 3, with 40% of women and 20% of men in Canada currently suffering from a perinatal mental illness, and rates are even higher for marginalized people.
“We want to make sure what happened to Flora never happens again to anyone in Canada; it is simply unacceptable,” “Perinatal mental illness is treatable and supports are available.”
Unlike the UK, Australia and the US, Canada does not have a National Perinatal Mental Health Strategy.
Moms, partners, babies, family and friends are all invited to join for a stroller walk to discuss, promote and support perinatal mental health.
For more information on Flora’s Walk, please go to: www.FlorasWalk.ca.
Team Muskoka’s Fundraising page:
https://floraswalk.ca/en/t/jade-steeles-team
Team Muskoka’s Silent Auction: