It is the last day of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and I wanted to finish with something practical. Because sometimes the hardest part is not recognising that something is wrong. It is knowing where to turn. What actually exists. Who can help and how to reach them. So this blog is a straightforward, honest guide to the organisations and resources that I think are genuinely brilliant. The ones I would point a friend to. The ones I trust. Bookmark this page. Share it with someone who might need it. And please, if anything this week has stirred something up for you, use it.
Your First Port of Call
Before anything else, I want to say this clearly.
Your GP, midwife or health visitor is always the right first step if you are struggling. You do not need to know what is wrong. You do not need a diagnosis. You do not need to be at crisis point. You just need to say that something does not feel right.
They can refer you to your local community perinatal mental health team if needed, or to talking therapy through NHS Talking Therapies, which you can also self-refer to in most areas of England without needing a GP referral at all. Search "NHS Talking Therapies" plus your area to find your local service.
If you are ever in crisis or worried about your immediate safety, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. You can also call 111 or the Samaritans any time of day or night on 116 123.
Now, the charities and organisations worth knowing about.
PANDAS Foundation
PANDAS stands for Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support and they are one of the most well-established and trusted perinatal mental health charities in the UK.
They offer free peer support through a helpline, a WhatsApp service, a bookable callback service and email support, all run by trained volunteers many of whom have personal experience of perinatal mental illness. They also run online and in-person support groups across the country.
Helpline: 0808 1961 776, open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pmWhatsApp support: message 07903 508334, open 8am to 10pm dailyEmail: info@pandasfoundation.org.uk, responded to within 72 hoursWebsite: pandasfoundation.org.uk
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
APP is the only UK charity dedicated specifically to supporting women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. They offer award-winning peer support connecting women with trained volunteers who have recovered from postpartum psychosis themselves, through an online forum, one-to-one email support and video calls.
If you are worried that you or someone you know may be experiencing postpartum psychosis, this is a medical emergency. Please contact your GP the same day, call 111, or go to A&E. APP cannot offer crisis support but they are an incredible resource for information, peer connection and support through recovery.
Website: app-network.org
Maternal OCD
A charity co-founded by mothers who have experienced and recovered from perinatal OCD. They offer information, peer support and signposting for women experiencing intrusive thoughts and OCD during pregnancy or after birth, as well as support for partners and families.
If Blog 3 this week resonated with you, this is the place to start.
Website: maternalocd.orgEmail: info@maternalocd.org
Mind
Mind has an excellent, clear and compassionate section on perinatal mental health on their website covering depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, PTSD and postpartum psychosis. Written without jargon, genuinely useful for understanding what you might be experiencing and what help is available.
Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393, open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pmWebsite: mind.org.uk
Tommy's
Tommy's has a dedicated focus on pregnancy health and wellbeing, including mental health. They have a team of midwives who provide free information and support, and their website has a useful Wellbeing Plan tool that can help you track how you are feeling during pregnancy.
They also offer specific support for anyone affected by pregnancy loss, miscarriage or premature birth, which links directly to what we covered in Blog 4 this week.
Website: tommys.org
Sands
Sands is the UK's leading pregnancy loss and baby loss charity. If you have experienced the loss of a baby at any stage, Sands offers a helpline, online community, local support groups and a wealth of information and resources.
Helpline: 0808 164 3332, open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6pm to 9pmWebsite: sands.org.uk
The Miscarriage Association
Specifically for anyone affected by miscarriage, molar pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy. They offer a helpline, email support and an online community, and their website has really honest, compassionate information about the emotional impact of pregnancy loss.
Helpline: 01924 200799Website: miscarriageassociation.org.uk
OCD-UK
A charity run by and for people with OCD, with specific information and resources around perinatal OCD. Useful for understanding the condition in more depth or finding local support.
Website: ocduk.org
The Birth Trauma Association
Support for anyone affected by birth trauma, including partners. If your experience of birth left you feeling frightened, out of control or deeply distressed, this is a really valuable resource.
Website: birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Hub of Hope
A really practical tool that lets you search for local mental health support anywhere in the UK. You can filter by type of support, location and what you are looking for. Really useful if you want to find something specific to your area rather than a national resource.
Website: hubofhope.co.uk
And Finally
This has been a big week of content. Heavy in places. Important in all of them.
If you have read any of it and recognised yourself, please reach out to one of the organisations above, or to your GP, midwife or health visitor. You do not have to keep going alone.
And if you are not struggling yourself but you know someone who might be, share this page with them. Sometimes the most powerful thing is simply knowing that support exists and that someone cares enough to point you toward it.
Thank you for being here this week. It has meant a great deal to write these blogs and I hope they have been useful.
If you ever want to talk about how I support women through pregnancy and beyond at Nurtured Birth and Beyond, my door is always open. You can find me at the link in bio or drop me a message any time.
Take care of yourselves.
Bex x