WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide.
Jenna Dorman was a successful tech executive and mother of two. The 42-year-old died by suicide in November 2024 after a battle with severe postpartum depression.
Her family is now sharing her story to push the B.C. government for better mental health supports for mothers in crisis, something they say has been lacking for years. “There was no help for her,” said her husband Jay Hoggard, sitting in the couple’s family home.
Dorman’s death — when her children were three years old and nine months old — happened despite months of frantic searching by her family and friends for in-patient psychiatric care that would treat her and keep her united with her new baby.
Jenna Dorman and her newborn son and toddler. She spent months struggling with postpartum depression and died by suicide in November 2024. (Family photo)
Hoggard said his wife was powerful, smart and motivated. She worked her way up in the tech industry to chief revenue officer. He said she focused on supporting other women in a male-dominated industry.
Dorman’s first pregnancy and maternity leave was “blissful.”
“It was such a beautiful time in our lives,” Hoggard said. “She fell in love with being a mom. She was so excited to raise our family and expand our family.”
However, her second pregnancy was more complicated because the baby was breached.
After the birth in February 2024, Dorman struggled with her son’s medical complications, which left her anxious and stressed.
Hoggard said this is when he noticed a turn in his wife’s mental health.
“From that moment, everything started diving,” he said.
In the summer of 2024, Hoggard found out his wife was thinking about suicide.
He and a group of her family and friends spent months contacting inpatient facilities, trying to find help for Dorman as her mental health spiralled.
“You’re just looking and looking and looking and there’s nothing there,” Hoggard said.
Jenna Dorman struggled with postpartum depression following medical issues involving her youngest son. (Family photo)
They immediately were faced with long waitlists or the prospect that Dorman would be separated from her baby. Hoggard said some mental health facilities would not take Dorman because she was too sick.
“As soon as a mother is having suicidal tendencies, some of those facilities don’t even accept them. They’re at risk so they won’t take them,” he said. “The system isn’t there to help you. So many families are just stranded looking for help.”
Dorman attempted suicide several times over the next few months, Hoggard says.
The family’s only option was to take her to Vancouver General Hospital.
“There was nowhere else to take her,” he said.
WATCH | Dorman’s family shares her story in push for change:
Family of mother who died by suicide calls for better supports for postpartum depression
WARNING: This video contains discussion of suicide. The family of a Vancouver woman who died by suicide after struggling with postpartum depression is speaking out about the lack of available mental health supports. As the CBC’s Katie DeRosa reports, they’re calling on the government to increase specialized in-patient options for mothers in crisis.
Dorman, separated from her baby, spent seven days on a bed in the a corner of the emergency department with just a curtain for privacy.
“Just sitting there waiting,” he said. “Doctors would pop in to say hi, give her some medication, and that’s it.”
Hoggard was left solo parenting with a seven-month-old and a three-year-old.
“The trickle down effect hits … home, hits the community,” he said.
Dorman was eventually moved to a mental health ward, still separated from her baby.
“It’s not meant for a mother,” he said. “It’s not very warm for a mother to be tossed around in a medical system. She should be with her baby, getting help.”
Jay Hoggard and Kiri Bird are fighting to close the gaps in mental health supports for new mothers. (CBC News)
Her close friend Kiri Bird said the only treatment offer that came was too late.
“The week she committed suicide. It was just tragic,” she said.
Now, Bird has launched a campaign to raise $32,000 to fund drop-in postpartum support at the Pacific Post Partum Support Society.
Bird said one in four women experience mental health challenges during pregnancy or postpartum and families often wait three to six months for community programs and access to mental health specialists.
She wants to see dedicated inpatient care for mothers and babies at B.C. Women’s Hospital perinatal mental health unit.
WATCH | B.C. Conservative MLA’s private member’s bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care passes:
B.C. Conservative MLA’s private member’s bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care passes
For the fourth time this century, a private member’s bill was passed in the B.C. Legislature. Langley-Willowbrook MLA Jody Toor’s bill on perinatal and postnatal mental health care will soon become law. She says the bill aims to ensure no family goes through mental health struggles before and after pregnancy.
B.C. MLAs unanimously supported a private member’s bill by B.C. Conservative MLA Jody Toor that aims to close the gaps in mental health care for women before and after they give birth.
The bill, which became law last May, set a one-year timeline for the government to create a strategy which includes universal access to perinatal and postnatal mental health care.
However, one year later, Toor said, “It’s disappointing to see that it’s been a year and we haven’t seen much work on my bill yet.”
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne insists that work is underway.
“It is so incredibly important to provide those kinds of supports for people,” she said.
Her ministry said in a statement that includes developing an updated maternity strategy and working with Perinatal Services B.C., to develop a new perinatal mental health strategy.
“Both strategies will be comprehensive, holistic, and rooted in a commitment to enhance maternity and reproductive care quality,” the ministry said.
Both Hoggard and Bird want to see services that treat mothers specifically.
“What I was searching for was a place for Jenna to go with her son. To be with other mothers suffering the same disease. And be able to feel loved.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to look for help: