Mental Health

Spoons

Spoons is a charity supporting families who experience neonatal care in Greater Manchester.

Spoons has a holistic approach to support based on the family’s individual needs and has links and partnerships with NHS services, charities and voluntary services in Greater Manchester.

Spoons’ peer to peer support project is led by volunteers who have all been parents of babies on the neonatal unit. Peer support volunteers are available to chat to parents remotely via social media, telephone or email and volunteers are also able to visit parents on the neonatal unit. There are closed Facebook community groups which enable parents to support other parents online in a safe space, these include separate groups for dads and parents who have experienced a bereavement on the neonatal unit.

There are a number community resources available for parents. These include local community support groups, baby massage, baby weaning sessions and first aid. There are also funded sessions of counselling, trauma therapy and EMDR therapy available for parents and siblings who may struggle with mental health following their neonatal experience.  More information can be found on their website.