In Her Circle is organized by people close to Jenna Dorman, grounded in our lived experience.
In late 2024, Jenna died of postpartum suicide. Her illness escalated quickly, and despite relentless advocacy from her family and community, the healthcare system was not equipped to provide the level of care she needed during an acute period.
Jenna was as loyal as she was ambitious, as successful as she was playful. Her fierce devotion as a friend, mother, and partner drew a deep love from her family and large, close-knit community.
Her story is not unique. Suicide is a leading cause of death for mothers in the first year postpartum.
If a family with access, education, and an entire community advocating on their behalf could not secure care, it raises a critical question: who can?
In Her Circle is inspired by the concentric circles of care that formed around Jenna in her illness, and calls on all of us to step into the circle of care surrounding mothers and families.
Press & Media Coverage
We are grateful for the coverage this issue is receiving and are open to exploring more ways to share Jenna’s story to close gaps in holistic postpartum support. Our voices are a powerful tool.
Please reach out with any press coverage requests: kiri@inhercircle.ca
‘In Her Circle’ movement hopes to close gaps in postpartum mental health care
May 11, 2026
Kiri Bird and Jay Hoggard speak to CBC Early Edition’s Amy Bell, to tell the story of Jenna Dorman, who died by postpartum suicide in late 2024 after the birth of her second child.
Mother’s Death Inspires Fundraiser for Postpartum Mental Health Care
May 28, 2026
Jenna Dorman’s friends say new parents are suffering due to gaps in supports. They’re working to change that.
Family of mother who died by suicide calls for better supports for postpartum depression
Jenna Dorman, 42, died in 2024 after struggling 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.
Vancouver mom’s suicide prompts call for inpatient mental health treatment for new mothers and babies
“Jenna’s death was preventable,” said Bird. “If there had been a mother and baby unit where she could have gone and healed for an extended period of time, supervised and supported and felt loved, I believe she would be alive today.”
Raising awareness, building community, and funding access to postpartum mental health care.