St. John’s, NL – In its third consecutive year, Flora’s Walk, a fundraiser dedicated to perinatal mental health, once again shed light on the challenges faced by parents during the transition to parenthood. Hosted by the provincial chapter of the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, the event drew approximately 50 participants to the picturesque Quidi Vidi Lake.
Among the attendees was Renee Francavilla, a member of the collaborative who played a pivotal role in organizing the inaugural Flora’s Walk in Barrie, Ontario, back in 2022. Francavilla’s personal connection to the cause, stemming from her own struggles with postpartum mental health issues, fueled her involvement.
Recalling her own experience, Francavilla shared, “At the time, I was actually in my postpartum period with my daughter. The foundation and the purpose of the walk were something that was very dear to my heart, as it’s actually something that I went through.”
Flora’s Walk coincides with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, observed during the first week of May, and is held annually in memory of Flora Babakhani, a new mother from Toronto who tragically lost her life to suicide in early 2022 after battling perinatal psychosis. The event aims to raise awareness of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, encompassing mental health challenges during pregnancy and within the first year postpartum, ranging from obsessive-compulsive disorder to anxiety and depression.
Francavilla bravely shared her own journey with postpartum psychosis, recounting feelings of detachment from her daughter, auditory hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. “I felt like I didn’t have a daughter… I knew something was not right and that I needed to seek help,” she expressed.
Despite her struggles, Francavilla highlighted the importance of seeking support and advocating for oneself within the healthcare system. Her experience underscores the critical need for increased awareness and support for parents facing similar challenges.
According to Jamie Green, Chair of the organization’s provincial chapter and a resident physician in psychiatry at Memorial University, one in four families in Newfoundland and Labrador encounter perinatal mental health issues, surpassing the national average of 20 percent. Green emphasized the growing understanding and support for the cause, evidenced by the expansion of this year’s events to include walks in Corner Brook and Carbonear.
While progress has been made, Green acknowledged existing gaps in the healthcare system, including the absence of a universal screening protocol for perinatal mental illness during healthcare provider appointments. She stressed the ongoing efforts at the national level to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mental illnesses.
Funds raised from the events will contribute to the organization’s initiatives, including the first-ever provincial education seminar on perinatal mental health scheduled for this fall, and a support program for new families.
As the community rallies behind Flora’s Walk and similar initiatives, Francavilla urges new parents to speak up and seek assistance when needed. “Push, push, push. Talk about it to your doctors… We’re all here to support one another,” she affirmed. “Postpartum period is so, so difficult, and I think that we should just kind of come together as one and support one another to get through it.”
