Barrie mom Patricia Tomasi isn’t taking no for an answer when it comes to helping moms and dads through perinatal mental health.

Last year, Tomasi and friend Jaime Charlebois petitioned for better supports for postpartum depression.

After making their case to federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, the pair has now heard back.

“We received a disappointing response, which for us indicates the government of Canada is ignoring moms and dads at a time they need perinatal mental health the most,” Tomasi said.

During the pandemic, new moms are experiencing social isolation and postpartum depression rates are soaring, Tomasi said.

Tomasi had postpartum depression twice, and Charlebois also experienced it. Together, they created the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative.

“Due to COVID, families are not visiting, they aren’t getting the support,” Charlebois said. “I’ve had women talk about their own mothers, who haven’t been able to hold their grandbabies yet.”

The government just isn’t offering support for new parents, she said.

“It’s clear to us they don’t understand the issue of perinatal mental health,” Tomasi said.

They are starting a letter writing campaign to MPs to have perinatal mental health collaborations.