'Smiling doesn't mean that everything's OK': New perinatal support centre to honour Regina mother's memory

Warning: this story contains discussion ofdepression and suicide.

A group of counsellors in Regina are using the tragic death of a local mother as motivation to help others suffering perinatal mental health issues.

Rene Ferguson left behind her husband and two children, now aged one and three,when she died by suicide in October2023. She was 29 years old. The Regina mother struggled with postpartum anxiety and depression.

Lindsay Gareau,a counsellor at Prairie Heart Counselling Inc. (PHCI) in Regina, saidFerguson's deathwas particularly troubling because she had been trying hard to get better.

"She was involved in counselling. She was attending a weekly mom support group. She was attending psychiatry. She was attending all of the things at home," Gareau said.

"She was doing all the right things."

WATCH | Rene Ferguson's death inspiresaction:

'I love you more': Young mom's death by suicide inspires new perinatal support centre

21 days ago

Duration 3:28

WARNING: this story contains discussion of depression and suicide.Rene Ferguson left behind her husband and two children, now aged one and three, when she died by suicide in October 2023. The 29-year-old Regina woman struggled with postpartum anxiety and depression. A group of counsellors is opening a perinatal mental health support centre in her memory.

After Ferguson's death, PHCIconsulted with thoseleft to grieve, trying to make sense of the situation.

"It left family members and professionals wondering 'What was the gap? What was missing?'" reads a recent post on PHCI's Facebook page.

"We found the answer, a village."

Now PHCI is getting ready to open I Love You More Wellness Centre, a space dedicated specifically toparents struggling with perinatal mental health issues,in Ferguson's memory.

The centre is set to open in August, with hopes of mid-June,inRegina's River Heights mall.It is expected to include an early morning coffee club, drop-in hours with counsellors on handand other programming.

Gareau, who had counselled Ferguson and spoke with the family's permission for this story,saidshe was in disbeliefwhen she learned of Ferguson's death.

"It rocked everybody's world," said Gareau. "It broke everybody's heart. I really don't think that any of us thought that it was that bad, and that's the thing with mental health. You don't know."

Gareausaidpostpartum depression affects one in five moms and one in 10dads.

"If this centre can save one person from ending their life, it's successful,"she said.

Inspiration for the name

Ferguson's mother Kellie Lefebvresaid they all knew Ferguson was having a hard time, but not how bad it was.

LefebvresaidFerguson always had a smile on her face.

"Just because somebody's smiling doesn't mean that everything's OK," she said. "When they say they're fine, they're not necessarily fine."

WATCH| Counsellor says moms need help to combat intrusive thoughts:

Regina counsellor who lost client to suicide says new moms need help to combat intrusive thoughts

21 days ago

Duration 1:00

Lindsay Gareau, a Regina social worker who specializes in maternal mental health, recently lost a client, 29-year-old Rene Ferguson , to suicide from postpartum anxiety and depression. She says perinatal mood and anxiety disorder is an illness that requires treatment and peer support.

Lefebvre describesher daughter as kind-heartedand loving. She said Ferguson never ended a conversation without making sure to express herlove.

"If I said, 'I love you,'she'd always say, 'I love you more.'"

This was the inspiration for theI Love You MoreWellness Centre's new name.

Lefebvre said the centre will bring together people at similar times in their lives, facing similar problems, to support each other.

"I know it'll be a place that participates in kindness," she said."I think this will give them an opportunity to find some kindred souls that can help them through their troubles."

Gareausaid the name is also a message to those who are struggling.

"No matter what's going on in your world, you're loved beyond measure. You're loved above your intrusive thoughts," she said. "I love you more than the darkness.I love you more than the pain."

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling on the website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.