Being the recipient of the Here Come The Girls Award at the Inspiring Women Awards was truly one of the honours of my life.
2024 Here Come the Girls Award winner, Evie Canavan BEM
Evie shares with us the lasting effects of being nominated for the Inspirirng Women Awards
“When I became unwell with Postpartum Psychosis after having my son, I thought I would be unwell forever. I had not been told that it was possible to experience severe mental illness after having a baby so when I started to experience frightening symptoms within an hour of my son being born, I did not know how much my life was going to change.
I was left to experience mania, hallucinations about death and an extreme fear of my own son.
No one knew what was wrong with me so didn’t know how to treat me. Postpartum Psychosis is a psychiatric emergency yet for 8 weeks, I was left to experience mania, hallucinations about death and an extreme fear of my own son. I could see not being alive as my only way out.
I found out I could be treated in a psychiatric mother and baby unit and after much pressure from me, I was admitted to one 200 miles from home and started my recovery.
I have dedicated the last 14 years to highlighting the impact of maternal mental illness on women and how to support them, founding the now global Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week as a free resource for families and health care professionals.
I do what I do to ensure women don’t experience what I did and with maternal suicide being the number one reason for the death of women in the first year after birth, I know I still have to bang this drum louder so we don’t forget mums.
Being recognised for my efforts when receiving this award has been wonderful with the impact being felt across the perinatal community. It has showed that the need to recognise women matter and to celebrate the things we do to help others.
Being nominated is a humbling experience and on the day of the awards I met other women I have long admired – individuals who have lost loved ones due to gender based violence and are working to end this, women who support work beyond the UK who fight for women to obtain equal rights such as voting and being in a room altogether was the most wonderful energy.
“Listening to stories of women supporting women during the ceremony made me laugh and cry as my emotions were touched in so many ways. One brilliant thing about the Awards is that the nominees are all invited to talk about their work, to share knowledge and that knowledge is power. To recognise the achievements in this way is wonderful and when I heard my name called out as winner, I could not believe it.”
It showed me that people had listened to my work and why it matters. 14 years ago, maternal mental illness was not talked about and I felt so alone. Receiving this Award has helped me to shout louder about why women matter and I will be forever grateful for this incredible recognition.
If a woman in your life has done something extraordinary, don’t hesitate to nominate her and celebrate her impact.
Further information on how to nominate for the 2025 Awards can be obtained here