Additional Resources
Perinatal Mental Health Team.
Depending on your local authority, there may be an NHS Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team offering group and individual support for those experiencing difficulties with their mood and mental health during the perinatal period.
Support from these specialist services is usually referral-based, with referrals typically made through healthcare professionals such as your GP, health visitor, midwife, or A&E services.
Your Health Visitor, GP and/ or midwife team may also know of additional local support services available to mothers, such as peer support groups, funded therapy and other forms of practical and emotional support.
National Organisations & Charities supporting mothers.
Maternal Mental Health Alliance
A leading UK charity and network focused on improving perinatal mental health support and awareness.
(maternalmentalhealthalliance.org)
Email: info@maternalmentalhealthalliance.org
PANDAS Foundation UK
Offers peer support, WhatsApp support, callbacks, online groups, and resources for parents affected by perinatal mental illness.
Helpline: 0808 1961 776
Email: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk
Crisis & Immediate Support
If a loved one has recently given birth and is behaving very out of character, appears unusually confused, elated, or paranoid, or is seeing or hearing things that others cannot, this may be postpartum psychosis.
Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency and urgent medical attention should be sought immediately. It is very treatable, but it is important not to delay seeking help.
If you are currently concerned for your own, or anyone’s immediate safety, please present at A&E.
Books.
There are many wonderful books and accounts exploring motherhood, but here are a few of my personal favourites.
The Compassionate Mind Approach to Postnatal Depression by Michelle Cree.
Matrescence by Lucy Jones
Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder
What have I done? by Laura Dockrill
Motherhood: A Manifesto by Elaine Glaser
Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel