Further resources on perinatal mental health problems

Please note we do not check or monitor these services, Please follow the links to the website first to check full services are offered.

• Planning a pregnancy when you have a severe mental health illness - https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/planning-a-pregnancy/planning-a-pregnancy-and-mental-illness
• Mind A mental health charity that provides advice and support to empower anyone experincing a mental health problem.
• Anxiety UK Provides information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including 1:1 therapy. The charity is run by people with lived experience of anxiety, stress or anxiety-based depression.
• Opening hours:9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. 10am to 8pm weekends – due to coronavirus.
• Call: 03444 775 774, Text: 07537 416 905
• NoPanic A totally voluntary charity, whose aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders, related anxiety disorders, including tranquilliser withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families.  Helpline: 0844 967 4848 Everyday 10am-10pm.  Crisis number 01952 680835 This is a recorded message available 24 hours.
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) APP is a national charity for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. Email: app@app-network.org
• Association of postnatal Illness  Helpline: 10am – 2pm – 0207 386 0868 Email: info@apni.org
• Best beginnings  
• Free NHS-accredited Baby Buddy app offering evidence-based information and self-care tools to help parents during pregnancy and early stages of parenting. App users also have access to a confidential, text-based Crisis Messenger which provides 24/7 support for new and expectant parents who are feeling extremely anxious or overwhelmed.
• Maternal OCD Peer led support available, email info@maternalocd.org to arrange.
• Netmums Netmums offer peer support via their Maternal Mental Health Drop-In Clinic.
• PANDAS A UK charity who provide support service for families and their networks who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression. Helpline open 7 days a week – 0808 1961 776Email support available – info@pandasfoundation.org.uk
• Dads Matter This is a free service that provides support for dads worried about or suffering from depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Support for males struggling with mental health - it takes balls to talk
• Respect (Men’s advice line) 0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday 9-5)
• ReThink Provides expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems. They give clear, relevant information on everything from treatment and care to benefits and employment rights.
• Twins Trust Twinline is Twins Trust’s listening service for parents of twins, triplets and more. All the calls are answered by volunteers who have multiples themselves. Twinline is open Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and from 7pm to 10pm. 0800 138 0509, alternatively email asktwinline@twinstrust.org.
• Tommy’s Tommy’s has a team of in-house midwives who offer free support and information for women and their families at any stage of pregnancy and after the birth.Helpline: Tommy’s helpline has been closed temporarily but their midwives are answering questions via email, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Email: midwife@tommys.org
• PTSD: A UK charity dedicated to provide support and information for anyone experiencing PTSD.
• Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity. Helpline: 0808 801 0677 Email support: help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
• CALM: A UK based charity offering mental health support to everyone with all types of mental health problems. Opening Hours: 5pm to Midnight, daily Call: 0800 58 58 58
• Mind Infoline: This phone line is a useful source of information for types of mental health problems, where to get help; medication and alternative treatments; and advocacy. Opening hours: 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays). Call: 0300 123 3393, Text: 86463.
• Self Injury Support Self-injury/self-harm support for women and girls – helpline, information and training. Telephone, email and text support, leaflets, publications and training.
• SANE SANE is a leading UK mental health charity improving quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness – including family friends and carers. Opening hours: 4.30pm to 10.30pm, daily. Call: 0300 304 700.

 

Birth Trauma

Make Birth Better are a collective bringing together lived experiences and professional knowledge of birth trauma and vicarious trauma.  They have a range of training and resources available:

• www.makebirthbetter.org
• www.birthtraumaasssociation.org.uk
• https://londontraumaspecialists.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/London-Trauma-Specialists-PTSD-Self-Help-Guide.pdf
• UNFOLD YOUR WINGS – Hope & Support for Birth Trauma and Perinatal PTSD
• Birth-Trauma-Tree-2019-version-5.pdf (unfoldyourwings.co.uk)

 

Trans fertility

• https://transfertility.co/
• https://www.parentingqueer.co.uk/pregnancy-advice
• https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/documents/support-for-trans-and-non-binary-people-during-pregnancy-birth-and-the-postnatal-period/

 

Pregnancy and COVID-19

For anyone currently struggling to manage anxiety during the Coronavirus outbreak, please see out self-help guide here:

• London Trauma Specialists - Coronavirus - Managing Anxiety 
• https://smalltimemum1.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/support-when-mums-need-it-most-perinatal-mental-health-support-during-covid-19-and-beyond/

 

Pregnancy and Loss

• Writers sharing experiences of child loss Child Loss & Infertility | Still Standing Magazine
• Sands | Stillbirth and neonatal death charity
• Together, for every baby | Tommy's (tommys.org)

 

Survivors of sexual abuse

• Memories of sexual abuse can be triggered by pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Sometimes pregnancy can be the catalyst for women accessing support regarding their own past traumas for the first time. This is a resource that has been developed in a collaboration between women with lived experience of sexual abuse and Kings College London. This is a very powerful resource and women may need some additional support in thinking about some of the issues raised https://rise.articulate.com/share/8Oo2-UGd5Jc5AyjV6rs5iyc4cf5tF88S#/
• The Survivors Trust
• There is also an additional organisation that supports women whose babies have been conceived through rape -  https://www.mocra-foundation.com/support-services
• All 4 Maternity: Pregnancy, birth and parenthood after childhood sexual abuse - https://www.all4maternity.com/pregnancy-birth-and-parenthood-after-childhood-sexual-abuse/