Post-Partum Mental Health Support Group
Parenting is challenging at the best of times, without other compounding elements such as having to adjust to another culture, climate and society. This support group offers participants an opportunity to speak and share as much or as little as they wish per session. The group opens with a check in, and unfolds into a sharing circle, with moments to offer feedback and support. Some tools to help manage challenging situations may be shared. A check-in email is sent mid-week to allow participants the chance to reflect on how things are going, and share anything that is on their mind. Each session, we have snacks and warm drinks.
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This group is a judgement free zone to come and share your experiences in early parenting. ALL of you is welcome in the group!
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The support group is trilingual: English, French, and Spanish!
Meet the Facilitator
Millie Tresierra
Millie Tresierra is a community advocate, birth/postpartum doula, and the cofounder of The Family Care Collective. She has been involved in perinatal support and advocacy (education, hands-on support, mental health) for over a decade. She is passionate about creating spaces in which women can come together and find support, mentorship, community and kinship. She has also experienced post-partum depression in her own life, giving her a personal connection to the importance of mental health support. Her motto in life is, "Community is the medicine."
Meet the Childcare Supervisor
Desrean McFarlane
Desrean McFarlane is a longtime teacher and team member of Mother Goose in Montreal. She helps parents to build confidence by helping them bond with their children through the magic of stories and songs. She is also a professional early childhood educator with experience running her own daycare business. We are so grateful to have her as our childcare supervisor for the Post-Partum Mental Health Support Group, so our participants and their little ones can benefit from her vast experience, her warmth, and her positive attitude.
Can I join? How do I do that?
Our support group is for parents of children ages 0 - 5 years old, who are in need of support in early parenting. Our support group is ALSO for parents who are still pregnant, and parents who have experienced loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. If you feel overwhelmed, isolated, lonely, anxious, depressed, and are in need of community, you are welcome. You don't need any diagnosis to be eligible.
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Fill out the form to register.
When and Where can I find it?
The support group meets every Friday morning from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. The current location is the Monkland Community Centre, 4410 Avenue West Hill.
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Access via public transit
The 162 E bus departs from Villa Maria station on the orange line, and stops at De Monkland / Benny, 2 minutes walk away from Monkland Centre.
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The 104 bus leaves from Atwater metro station on the green line, passes by Vendome metro station on the orange line, and stops at Cavendish / de Monkland, which is a 6-minute walk from the Monkland Centre.
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The 138 bus leaves from Atwater metro station on the green line, and stops at Cavendish / de Monkland, which is a 6-minute walk from the Centre.
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The 420 express bus passes near Guy-Concordia metro station on the green line and Vendome metro station on the orange line, and stops at Cavendish / de Monkland, which is a 6-minute walk from the Monkland Centre.
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Access via car
The Monkland Centre has some free parking in front of the building on Avenue West Hill.