THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Perinatal Coalition, led by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, had its second annual walk to raise awareness about perinatal mental health.
The city joined more than 50 other communities across Canada participating in Flora’s Walk, on May 3 at Waverley Park.
“Flora's Walk is actually an initiative that was started by the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative. It was started in 2023 as a national initiative to raise awareness for perinatal mental health in Canada,” said Denise Sozio, public health nurse with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Sozio, who is also the chair of the Thunder Bay Perinatal Coalition, said the event is inspired by the tragic story of Flora Babakhani.
“She was a Toronto mom who sadly lost her life to suicide in January 2022, because of undetected and untreated perinatal psychosis.
“In her memory, the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative organized the first Flora’s Walk in 2023, and it's meant to coincide with World Maternal Mental Health Day,” she said.
While it is often an idealized and joyful time, it can bring on intense emotional, physical and psychological shifts for people, Sozio said.
“Mental health challenges during this period can affect really anybody across all genders, across all cultures, across all income levels.
“We know that about one in five cisgender women experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth. For fathers or non-gestational parents, the number's approximately one in 10.”
The challenges are very common and even more so in the Northwestern Ontario region.
“Our area consistently has reported some of the highest rates of maternal mental health concerns in Ontario since 2013. 2022 is the last year that we have some of that data for, and our numbers here were about 50 per cent of local individuals did experience a mental health challenge during their pregnancy.
“Comparing that to the provincial average of about 23 per cent, we've got a very high rate in our area. We also know too that perinatal mental health challenges are very widely underdiagnosed and under reported. It's often due to stigma or lack of accessible support or not being aware of support that's available.”
Sozio said the intent of the walk is break down stigma.
“We know that stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to seeking help. Really, too often people feel ashamed, they feel alone, they're not sure where to go, so that's really why we're here today.
“That’s why we're walking, we're trying to break the silence, challenge the misconceptions and really build a community where perinatal mental health is treated with seriousness, treated with compassion.”
Last year’s event saw about 50 people, she said.
“The weather is better this year by far, so we're hoping to have a few more people. Honestly, if we even get the word out to just one person who's struggling in silence right now, then I feel like we've done our job,” Sozio said.
For more information on supports visit the TBDHU’s website.
