As I see it, Bill C‑222 is the first step toward recognition by the government that perinatal grief does actually exist. I think it's important to name it.
I'll tell you a bit about our experience on the ground. Seldom has a parent who reached out to us said that they were ready to go back to work. Many parents who rush back to work are devastated and feel as though they are stealing their employer's time, because even though they are at work, their mind is somewhere else. They don't have time to grieve, and in many cases, the father goes back to work very soon after the loss. He feels helpless, because he has to support his family, and incredibly guilty for leaving his partner and the rest of the family alone to deal with everything that comes with the loss.
We are fortunate that we can provide free support to families. Last year, more than 170 families received individual and couple support free of charge, not including all the other parents who attended workshops.
Recognizing that what they are going through is really grief is a huge change. That is important. I also want to say how important it is to consider the training needs of the professionals parents come into contact with along the way. It's important not to disregard that either. When we meet with parents who reach out to us, parents who were denied paternity leave by family doctors because they didn't recognize this loss, we see the terrible toll it takes on families, what they go through.