Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health

Welcome to the 4th annual Flora's Walk for Perinatal Mental Health fundraiser! From now until May 31st, individuals and teams will raise funds for perinatal mental health programming across Canada. Join a team or start your own and become part of the movement to improve perinatal mental health care in Canada.Flora’s Walk is named about Canadian mother, Flora, who tragically lost her life in 2022 to undetected and undiagnosed and untreated postpartum psychosis. We honour Flora and all those who have lost their lives to perinatal mental illness and fight for those struggling to receive care.  

This year we are happy to be able to provide a donation receipt for all donations.

What’s especially unique about Flora’s Walk is that the majority of funds raised by teams stay in local communities. Organizations involved in perinatal mental health work in Canada (charities, non-profits, private) can apply to raise funds for local perinatal mental health programming and start their own team.  If you would like to lead a team fill out the team lead application here

During the month of May, World Maternal Mental Health Month, numerous walks are held across Canada to raise funds for perinatal mental health services in local communities and to honour the memory of Flora, a Canadian mother who tragically died due to undetected and untreated postpartum psychosis.

Perinatal refers to the time period from conception to one year postpartum and beyond.1 in 5 mothers, and 1 in 10 fathers struggle with perinatal mental health issues during that time, including prenatal and/or postpartum depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Unfortunately, less than 15% of people receive treatment in Canada.

Canada does not have a national perinatal mental health strategy and lags behind many other countries, including the UK, Australia, and the US, in providing quality and timely perinatal mental health care. A survey revealed that 97% of health practitioners believe perinatal mental health care in Canada is insufficient. Flora’s Walk was started by the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative, a nonprofit organization working to improve timely access to perinatal mental health services. Flora’s Walk is Canada’s largest perinatal mental health fundraiser, and all funds remain in Canada. Since 2022, thanks to Flora’s Walk, over 100 organizations across Canada have been able to offer free and low-cost support groups and therapy to individuals and families struggling with perinatal mental health conditions. Please join us in raising funds and raising awareness for perinatal mental health care in Canada.