Support groups, charities and websites
Organisations who support parents struggling with their mental health
There are several organisations and charities that can support you with your mental health needs during the perinatal period. Some of these charities and organisations offer support for specific mental health problems, for example, OCD or depression. Some organisations bring together support for people with specific needs or bring people together with shared identity to offer collective supportive throughout the perinatal period.
- maternalocd.org – advice and support for OCD in the perinatal period
- pandasfoundation.org.uk – advice and support for antenatal and postnatal depression advice and support
- apni.org – advice and support for postnatal illness
- app-network.org – action for postpartum psychosis – advice and support for postpartum psychosis
- mind.org.uk – national mental health charity with useful resources on mental health conditions, treatment and how to access support
- Home-Start HOST | Because childhood can’t wait – advice and support via peer support groups
- https://heartsandmindspartnership.org/ – advice and support via peer support groups
To read a little more about perinatal mental health you could download the following leaflet Pregnancy in mental health leaflet. This was produced by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, with permission granted for use across Greater Manchester.
Organisations who provide practical and emotional support
- Home Startoperates across Greater Manchester and offers a volunteer home visiting service where trained volunteers visit you weekly to offer practical help and emotional support with a wide range of issues. Home-Start works in partnership with local Parent Infant Mental Health teams to help parents form positive relationships with their babies. https://www.gmhomestarts.org.uk/ supporting young families under stress
Supporting Dads in Greater Manchester to have the best possible relationships with their families
- Dad Matters want to help Dads and Dads to have the best relationship with their babies. We do this by focussing on three main topics: attachment & bonding, mum and dad’s mental health and accessing appropriate services. We work with Dads in 1-2-1 and group settings and offer Walk and Talks, Wellbeing Groups, Antenatal Groups, one to one support and much more. Tel: 0161 3440669. Email: dadMatters@homestarthost.org.uk Website: www.dadMatters.org.uk
Supporting Black maternity experience:
HOME | themotherhoodgroup supporting the maternal experience of black women
Advice for LGBTQ+ parents and carers
Proud 2 b Parents is an inclusive organisation for all routes to parenthood. We are run by and deliver services for LGBT+ parents / carers to be, LGBT+ parents / carers and their children living in Greater Manchester. We run a variety of services to meet the needs of the community, these include ‘Parent 2 b’ discussions, mid-week meet ups, monthly get-togethers, Parent Support Sessions, a youth group for young people aged 8+ who have LGBT+ parents / carers. Tel: 07843913001. Email: info@proud2bparents.co.uk Website: www.proud2bparents.co.uk
Information and support about Neonatal care
- Neonatal Unit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAoY73y48es
- Spoons Charity – Neonatal Family Support – Spoons is a charity that supports families through neonatal care in the Greater Manchester area. They have a range of services including cot side peer support, financial support, trauma therapy and counselling and community baby massage and play sessions.
Tel: 0300 365 0363
Email: care@spoons.org.uk
Website: www.spoons.org.uk
Supporting parents with babies who have additional needs
Support for parents having twins/multiple births move