Another lockdown creates issues for everyone - whether that is financial worries, feelings of isolation or stress from juggling homeschooling and work. It takes a toll on our mental health and general wellbeing and we need to find ways to incorporate some self-care into our day.
So, we've started this conversation to allow our commuity to share ways to support each other during this difficult time - please do join in and share self-care ideas and suggestions to links or useful websites or resources...
Where to get further help or support
If a parent needs help urgently they should contact their GP, midwife, mental health team, call 999, the Samaritans (tel 08457 90 90 90) or NHS 111 Emergency and Urgent Care Services.
National Support Organisations
Pandas Foundation (PND Awareness and Support)- helpline 0843 289 8401
Association for Postnatal Illness (APNI) – helpline 020 7386 0868
Anxiety UK – helpline 08444 775 774
The Birth Trauma Association – have an online private member support group (facebook) and list a number of counsellors and therapists experienced in birth trauma
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) – offer peer support provided by volunteers who are mainly women who have recovered from postpartum psychosis (also partners and grandparents). This includes an online peer support forum, one to one peer support and face to face café groups in some areas of the country. They can also provide peer support for women who are at higher risk of postpartum psychosis because they are pregnant and have bipolar disorder. NB APP does not provide crisis support, their peer support service is there to help as a mother begins to recover.
MIND – helpline 0300 123 3393 or text 86463
Baby Buddy Crisis Messenger: parents who are in emotional pain or a crisis, can text BABYBUDDY to 85258 for confidential text support from a trained volunteer.