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Circle of Security parenting programme is an evidence-based, relationship-focused program that helps parents understand and respond to their young children's emotional needs to build secure attachments, using visual maps and group discussions to improve confidence, resilience, and the parent-child bond. It teaches parents to interpret their child's cues for closeness (needs comfort/security) and distance (needs exploration) within the "Circle" to foster a secure base for the child's development.

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Are you struggling with low parenting confidence, understanding or bonding with your baby or managing your child's behaviour? If yes we have a Parent Infant Psychologist who works with families with a child up to three years old. Referrals have to go through a health professional so if you feel you would like to speak with someone about this please call our duty line on 020 8549 7700 or speak with your health visitor.

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This series of animated films unpacks the brain science and explains key concepts behind the way nurturing interactions support the social and emotional development of babies and young children. Building on the Shaping Us Framework, the films explain the science behind the everyday moments of connection that can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life.​

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The Centre for Early Childhood Explainer Series

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This series of animated films unpacks the brain science and explains key concepts behind the way nurturing interactions support the social and emotional deve...

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Are you looking for mental health support, advice or information near you? Know who to turn to in the community is our directory of local and trusted organisations, charities, and community groups that can help you in Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

From wellbeing support groups to practical help for carers, as well advice on a range of topics, Know who to turn to in your community makes it easier for you to get the right support at the right time.

Explore the directory to connect with organisations and groups dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing in your community.

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Know who to turn to in your community - Website

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South West London Mental Health Resource Hub

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Want to be able to understand and support your child more with managing their emotions? Following on from the success of the first group, the family hubs are running their second course in January. Spaces are limited so register your interest early.

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Jan 2026 Poster - Parent Group - Supporting Infants with Big Emotions and Behaviours.pptx (1)

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This leaflet offers clear, colour-coded guidance to help people understand when and how to access:

Non-urgent support: GP, NHS Talking Therapies, Every Mind Matters

Urgent support: NHS 111 ‘press 2 for mental health, the South West London Mental Health Crisis Line, the Children and young people’s CAMHS Crisis Line, and Recovery Cafes (also known as Crisis Cafes)

Emergency support: 999 or local A&E, if someone’s life is at risk

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Tiny Happy People advises that screen time should be high-quality and age-appropriate, with no screen time recommended for children under two and a maximum of one hour for children aged two to four, emphasizing interactive and social experiences over passive consumption to support language and development. Parents are encouraged to watch and interact with their children during screen time, focusing on quality content rather than quantity, and to prioritize face-to-face interactions and real-world play.

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Screen time for kids - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A collection of tips and advice on how to make the most of screen time with your children.

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Final EY Parent Carer Support morning poster.Nov 25 .pdf

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ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying. There are lots of resources on their website.

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E-learning for parents and families. Brought to you by the Solihull Approach NHS team. Use the code TREE if required to access some of the courses. The Solihull Approach is about emotional health and wellbeing for all children, their parents, carers and grandparents. We are passionate about sensitive relationships, early years support and understanding brain development to help nurture kind, emotionally aware children as they grow.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach | Online courses for parents

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inourplace | Solihull Approach : Online courses dedicated to improving emotional health and wellbeing in parents, children, teenagers, adults and grandparents.

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Discover the signs of common perinatal mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, and lesser-known or less common conditions like postpartum psychosis, OCD, PTSD, tokophobia and eating disorders.

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iHV launches new film to raise awareness of Fathers’ Mental Health

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iHV launches new film to raise awareness of Fathers’ Mental Health

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The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) launched its powerful and deeply moving new film “Invisible”. This poignant and touching film raises awareness of new fathers’ mental health and explores the factors impacting the emotional wellbeing of fathers following the arrival of a new baby. At least 1 in 10 men are known to experience poor mental health around the time of birth, and suicide remains the leading cause of death in men under 50. There is strong evidence that fathers’ mental health has significant impacts on their babies’ health and development, and the health of their partners, during pregnancy and beyond.

In addition, studies show that many new dads feel ignored and left out by services which may mean they don’t ask for help when they’re struggling. Services for families during pregnancy and the postnatal period remain strongly focused on mothers, leaving many men feeling ignored, excluded and reluctant to ask for help. There can be unique opportunities for midwives, health visitors and other healthcare professionals to identify any concerns and offer timely support. WARNING This video may be quite upsetting for some.

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Based on an original idea by Dr Sharin Baldwin and Chris Godwin, Invisible is a powerful new film launched by the Institute of Health Visiting in 2025, to raise awareness of the complex interplay of factors that impact men in the transition to fatherhood.

The film, funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing, has been produced in collaboration with Inner Eye Productions and is based on extensive academic research, interviews with practitioners, and impactful lived experience accounts from a diverse range of fathers and parents.

As founder and creative director of Inner Eye Productions, Chris brings a unique approach to culture change through the powerful medium of film. As a leading academic and researcher in the field of fathers' mental health, Sharin brings a robust evidence base of this often-overlooked public health issue. Together, they hope that Invisible will engage hearts and behaviours so that services, systems and society become more inclusive and supportive of new fathers and all babies, children and families get the best start in life.

The film can be used as a standalone impact piece, or as part of a training programme for services working with families around the time of birth and early parenthood.

For further information about the iHV Fathers & Perinatal Mental Health Training Programmes, click here.

As well as the full 20 minute film, a short trailer is also available and can be used for marketing purposes - please see the trailer below.

Invisible Film Trailer:

Please use this link for the trailer of Invisible - https://vimeo.com/1080764761/583da9b7f8?ts=0&share=copy

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Invisible - Fathers' mental health film - IHV

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Based on an original idea by Dr Sharin Baldwin and Chris Godwin, Invisible is a powerful new film launched by the Institute of Health Visiting in 2025, to raise awareness of the complex interplay of factors that impact men in the transition to fatherhood.

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Postnatal garden project for new mums

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We bring together and support the infant mental health sector, provide clinical leadership and campaign for policy change

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The Core Story

This infographic sets out the core story of why relationships between parents and their babies in the first 1001 days are so crucially important. It was co-created by a wide range of professionals, coordinated by the Parent-Infant Foundation. Importantly, the infographic makes it clear that BOTH tackling adversity AND supporting early relationships are important in giving children the best start in life.

Baby Brain Facts

There is a growing body of research to support the importance of the first 1001 critical days. This infographic pulls out some key facts and statistics to support the case for action.

References

References to support the facts and statistics in the infographic are listed below.

Babies hear at around 24 weeks of pregnancy, recognise familiar voice at birth, and prefer faces to other shapes. There are many studies that now support these claims. Some of the early papers include:

Karmiloff‐Smith, A. (1995). Annotation: The extraordinary cognitive journey from foetus through infancy. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36(8), 1293-1313.

Goren, C. C., Sarty, M., & Wu, P. Y. (1975). Visual following and pattern discrimination of face-like stimuli by newborn infants. Pediatrics, 56(4), 544-549.

DeCasper, A. J., & Fifer, W. P. (1980). Of human bonding: Newborns prefer their mothers' voices. Science, 208(4448), 1174-1176.

In the first years of life, more than one million new connections are formed every second in a baby’s growing brain.

This is one of the Five Numbers to Remember about Early Childhood Development selected by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (2009). Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.

A range of research shows that the way parents interact with their babies predicts children’s later development.

We struggled to select one study or fact to capture the huge wealth of evidence about the importance of parent-infant interaction. There is a range of research about the importance of parents’ behavioural responses to their children (sensitivity) and the way they think about their babies (capacities such as reflective function, mentalisation and mind-mindedness). Research also shows that the things parents do with their babies (such as how babies are fed, and activities such as reading, talking and singing) can make a difference to early wellbeing and development.

Children’s development in the early years sets them on a positive trajectory. Children’s development at just 22 months is linked to their qualifications at 26 years.

This fact comes from Leon Feinstein’s analysis of the 1970 Birth Cohort Survey (BCS) Feinstein, L. (2003). Inequality in the early cognitive development of British children in the 1970 cohort. Economica, 70(277), 73-97.

Family income and education is strongly related to children’s development. Babies in higher income families are more likely to have frequent caregiver-child conversations. By age 3, babies with university-educated parents have been found to have vocabularies 2-3 times larger than those whose parents had not completed school.

The Early Intervention Foundation’s report Key Competencies in Early Cognitive Development contains a summary of the evidence about early language development, including the importance of family income. The statistic about gaps in language development at age three is one of the Five Numbers to Remember about Early Childhood Development selected by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (2009). Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.

When parents experience problems in the first 1001 days it can have long term impacts on their children. One study showed that children whose mothers were stressed in pregnancy were twice as likely to have mental health problems as teenagers.

This fact describes a study by O’Donnell et al. that showed that if a mother was in the 15% of the population with the worst anxiety and depression during pregnancy, this doubled the risk of her child having a mental disorder at 13 years of age. It is important to note that the risk doubled from 6% to 13% – the majority of children whose mothers were ill did not go on to develop a mental disorder in their teens.O’Donnell, K., Glover, V., Barker, E. D. & O’Connor, T. G. (2013). The persisting effect of maternal mood in pregnancy on childhood psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology

8,300 babies under one in England currently live in households where domestic violence, alcohol or drug dependency and severe mental illness are ALL present.

This statistic comes from the Children’s Commissioner’s 2018 report A Crying Shame.

Adults who reported four or more adverse childhood experiences had 4- to 12-fold increase in alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempts compared to those who experienced none.

This fact is from the ACE study: Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American journal of preventive medicine, 14(4), 245-258.

Rigorous long-term studies found a range of returns between £4 and £9 for every pound invested in early intervention for low income families.

This is one of the Five Numbers to Remember about Early Childhood Development selected by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (2009).

The Heckman Curve was sourced from https://heckmanequation.org/resource/the-heckman-curve

What is Infant Mental Health?

This infographic, created for Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, describes what infant mental health is and why it matters. It explains the fundamental role of early relationships and how infant mental health lays the foundations for a range of important outcomes.

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1001 Days Updates Past Activities APPG Activities Campaigning Resources Members Infographics The Core Story This infographic sets out the core story of why relationships between parents and their babies in the first 1001 days are so crucially important. It was co-created by a wide range of professio…

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Association of postnatal illness

Call us on 0207 386 0868 (from 10.00am to 2.00pm Monday to Friday)

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APNI - Association for Post-Natal Illness | Post Natal Depression

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APNI - Association for Post-Natal Illness | Post Natal Depression

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Association for Post-Natal Illness and Post Natal Depression. APNI relies solely on the generosity of the public to fund our charity.

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Are you a new mum with your first baby? Finding things overwhelming and struggling with confidence? Worried that you don't have that rushing feeling of love towards your baby in the early weeks? You are not alone. Having a baby is one of the biggest life changing events you will go through. It is normal to feel a loss of identity and feelings of guilt. Relationships need time to grow. Come and meet new mums, have a coffee and a chat in a safe non judgemental space. The Wellbeing coffee morning is run on the first Tuesday of each month (with the odd exception) 10:00-12:00 at Sutton central library Sutton family hub. Drop in any time between these times. Please check back here regularly for any changes or cancellations.

Dates of the next few mornings as follows:

Tuesday the 3rd of February

Tuesday the 3rd of March

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Whether you're an overwhelmed new parent or juggling work with entertaining a toddler, we are here for you with this collection of advice for parental mental health and parent wellbeing

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Whether you're an overwhelmed new parent or juggling work with entertaining a toddler we are here for you with this collection of advice for parental mental health and parent wellbeing.

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Parental mental health and parent wellbeing - BBC Tiny Happy People

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How can parents stay mentally healthy? Looking after your own mental health and focussing on your own self care is an important part of being a parent and carer. Check out our collection of articles and videos offering mental health and wellbeing tips, advice and support for parents.

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Why singing to your baby is really beneficial.

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Self care is a necessity not a luxury, taking time to prioritise yourself is an evidence based way to take care of your emotional wellbeing.

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90% of your child's brain growth happens before the age of 5. Right from the start, all those little moments you spend together are building their brain.

Every smile, cuddle, chat and game makes a huge difference, helping them learn to communicate, develop confidence and make friends.

Find lots of ideas, easy tips and activities you can do together with your child.

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90% of your child's brain growth happens before the age of 5. Right from the start, all those little moments you spend together with your child are building their brain.

Every smile, cuddle, chat and game makes a huge difference, helping them learn to communicate, develop confidence and make friends.

Find lots of ideas, easy tips and activities you can do together with your child.

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Early learning and development - Start for Life - NHS

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Every smile, chat and cuddle is a great opportunity to help your baby's communication and language skills. Find fun activities and games for your everyday routine.

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Start for life little moments together campaign

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Start for life little moments together campaign

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This film has been released to explain how children’s brains develop during the early years, and the crucial role parents play through all the little moments they spend together with their child.The more we chat, play and read with our kids, the more we help build their brains. Any time, anywhere, whether at home or out and about, it all adds up. There’s no need to buy lots of toys or have big days out. Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your child’s questions and sharing special moments together all help their brain to grow and develop secure and strong connections. Just what they need to get off to the right start at school.

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Help build our amazing brains together | Start for Life | NHS

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Courses to support parenting

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Would you like to meet with other parents/carers in a cosy, non-judgemental and welcoming

environment?

Would you like to find out about services that are available in the London Borough of Sutton

that may benefit you and your family?

Would you like to give your opinion about what you feel is needed in your local area?

Maybe you just want some advice on a matter and you don’t know where to turn.

Do you require any parenting advice?

If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, we are facilitating parent/carer

coffee/information sessions in your local area.

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2026 Parent Coffee_Information sessions dates and time (2)

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TIPP distress tolerance skills stand for "Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, and Progressive muscle relaxation," which are a set of techniques used in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to quickly calm down during moments of high emotional distress by changing your physical state; essentially, they involve manipulating your body temperature, engaging in physical activity, controlled breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation to regulate your emotions.

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This is a lovely resource about baby's brain development in the early weeks.

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Art classes with Sutton women's centre

To book your place please email

Jo@suttonwomen.co.uk

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Creative Expression Sessions

Creative Expressions is a 8 week course for mothers who have faced challenges, providing a supportive space to explore experiences, strengths and aspirations. Each week focuses on a different theme, from finding your voice and exploring the highs and lows of motherhood to uncovering identity and looking forward.

Through creative exploration, led by a Dramatherapist, you'll have the opportunity to reflect, play, and express yourself in new ways that feel meaningful to you in a supportive environment.

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The specialist health visitor for perinatal and infant mental health runs a baby massage course for baby's that were born premature or term baby's that had a stay in the neonatal unit. Please ask your health visitor to refer you.

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The specialist health visitor for perinatal and infant mental health runs a baby massage course (See attached leaflet) for any new parents living with perinatal mental health issues. If you feel that you are not bonding with your baby, living with low confidence and/or anxiety. Had a traumatic birth or if baby is unsettled then please ask your health visitor to refer you. You will learn how to massage your baby and have some relaxation in a safe space.

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South West London healthier together resource

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South West London healthier together resource

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The resources on the Healthier Together website have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across South West London. You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep your child comfortable and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.

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Healthier Together - a South West London Integrated Care Board project. The website provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women, and clinical resources to support healthcare professionals

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South West London mental health services

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South West London mental health services

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Mental health and dementia services in Sutton

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NHS South West London Integrated Care Board

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Sutton mental health and wellbeing services - NHS South West London Integrated Care Board

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Find mental health and emotional wellbeing services in Sutton, South West London.

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Barnardo’s Family Space offers information, guidance and support for all stages of your parenting or caring journey, from pregnancy through to when your child turns 19.

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Looking after yourself

Taking care of yourself is an essential part of being a great parent. By prioritising your well-being, you will be better equipped to provide the care and love your baby needs.

Our Baby on the way pages have lots of practical helpful information to help you prepare for parenthood:

What to expect during pregnancy

The importance of good nutrition during this time

How to take good care of your teeth and mouth

What you can start to plan for

How you can start connecting with your baby while they are growing in the womb

It's good to have support from friends, and family. Many services and professionals will also be there to offer support from the start of your pregnancy.

Brooke and NHS Services for new parents advise about the support you will receive throughout the stages of pregnancy and birth.

Looking after your teeth and gums are especially important when you are pregnant. Our oral health pages explain why and you can find out how to register for a dentist in your area.

You may need to work with children's services or other professionals if you are under the age of sixteen or there are any concerns about you or your baby's welfare.

Use available resources and lean on the support of those around you. This shows you are taking positive steps toward ensuring a bright future for both you and your child.

Pregnancy and childbirth bring lots of changes to your body and emotions. This can feel difficult or even overwhelming.

If you find that you are constantly feeling stressed or sad, many organisations such as Mind have lots of information. They can support you with your mental health as well as support for postnatal depression.

For urgent help and support, the NHS (National Health Service) has a list of mental health helplines.

Looking after your baby

When you are taking care of a baby, there are lots of things to figure out. One big choice is whether to breastfeed or use formula.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to bond with your baby. Many parents, including yourself, may lack knowledge about this and that is completely okay.

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A young parent is someone who has a baby when still in their teens or twenties, usually before age 25. Find information and support on this page.

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Sexual health, mental health, drugs and alcohol advice

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Sexual health, mental health, drugs and alcohol advice

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We are ‘Getting it on’ and our aim is to provide young people who need help and support, or who are uncomfortable with asking for help, easy access to relevant services at a time they need them most and without the fear of being judged.

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We are 'Getting it on' and our aim is to provide young people who need help and support, or who are uncomfortable with asking for help, easy access to relevant services at a time they need them most and without the fear of being judged.

If you're a young person and live in SW London then we're your one stop spot for finding sexual health, relationship, mental health, drugs and alcohol support services in your area.

We cover these SIX SW London boroughs:

To find the right service that's closest to you, simply click on your area.

The services provided may be different for each area, so make sure you click on a specific borough to see what's available.

As well as giving information about local services, we also provide a space online where you can freely access useful advice about a range of topics that support your health and wellbeing:

We run frequent campaigns to keep you updated with useful tips for your health, safety, and wellbeing. You can catch up on some of our most recent campaigns here:

Are you in a good relationship? Sometimes it's hard to know. Read our guide and find out.

Protect YOU. Protect YOUR PARTNER. Find out where to get free online STI testing kits

Learn how to help yourself 'bounce back' after difficult times by watching our video 'Building emotional resilience with Dr Radha'

We want to hear from you

We love hearing from you to get ideas and feedback on our messages and information.

We're also always happy to learn about any other relevant services you may be aware of, in any of the 6 boroughs we cover, that are not listed on our website.

If you would like to get in touch, please use our Feedback page here.

If you need help or advice please click here to find a service near you.

If you are in immediate danger, please call

999

Getting It On is dedicated to helping teenagers in South West London. We provide information and advice on key issues such as sexual and mental health, drugs, alcohol and relationship problems, and give listings of helpful services and clinics across the area.

Maybe you are worried about alcohol or drugs, could do with talking to someone about LGBTQ issues, or need some advice about having sex for the first time? Or maybe you need contraception - either long-term (LARC) or emergency (EHC), are pregnant and need help, or have questions about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs)? Whatever the issue, hopefully our website can offer advice, or point you in the right direction to get the help you need.

To find a full list of all the local clinics and services in your area, use our search facility. Choose your area - Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton or Wandsworth - then pick the category that best matches your query from the drop-down menus.

Getting It On is here to help. Don't go it alone.

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Sexual health, drugs & alcohol services for teenagers in South West London :: Getting It On :: Getting It On :: GIO

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Advice, information and services for teenagers in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Wandsworth and surrounding areas.

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Gingerbread is a charity providing expert advice and information to support all single parents so that they have the tools to support their children and themselves. They have a teenage parents benefits finder, just click the link.

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Not registered yet?

Our community membership is open to all single parents in England and Wales and gives you access to local and online support, news and events.

Register now

Becoming a parent is both exciting and challenging at any age. And being a single parent when you're young is a special experience, but it also brings certain pressures.

You may be worried about people judging you or making comments. You may feel you need to prove you're a good parent and doing the best for your child. You might be unsure about what to do about your studies and work - or where to live. However you're feeling, you're not alone. We speak to many young single parents here at Gingerbread.

On this page, we share some guidance on key topics and point you to where you can find help, information and community. And we're here to talk if you need to hear a friendly voice.
Looking after yourself Useful links for young single parents

Looking after yourself

Becoming a parent can be incredibly rewarding. But it's also really hard work, and it's important to look after yourself as well as your child.

You can also contact any of these places for advice or just someone to talk to:

offers support and advice to young people under 25. They'll answer those awkward or embarrassing questions you might not want to ask other people. And you can text their Crisis Messenger service if you're struggling or having a crisis.

Staying in touch with your friends

It can be hard to stay close to your friends and find time to see them when you have a child. They might not seem to understand or be interested in what you're going through, especially if you're the only one with a baby.

Try talking to them about how you feel. They might not realise you still want to see them. They might just think you don't have time or aren't interested any more.

Think about when and where you could meet them. Your old hangouts might not work anymore if you used to go to pubs or stay out late, or meet miles from home. But maybe they'd be up for a walk in a nearby park, or coming to yours to see you.

You might also enjoy making friends with other young parents. Ask your health visitor or have a look online for parent and baby groups in your area.

Help with money

Money is often a big worry for young single parents. But there is support out there to help you manage.

If you're under 18, there are special rules about what benefits you can claim. We have 2 - that you can use to see what you can claim. Or you can easy-to-use benefits checkers - including one for under 18s for some tailored advice. talk to us

Child maintenance

Both parents are financially responsible for their child's wellbeing, even if they don't live with them. And for lots of single parents, child maintenance is crucial for making ends meet.

This usually includes regular payments to the parent who cares for the child most of the time. It can also include paying bills or buying things such as clothes and toys, or anything else that you and your child's other parent agree on.

It's not always easy to study and be a single parent. But plenty of young single mums and dads do continue their studies while looking after their child. You might find it interesting to read stories from other single parents who are studying or watch Vimi talk about studying as a single parent .

If you're going back to school after having your baby, Childline has lots of helpful advice about settling back in, keeping up with schoolwork and dealing with negative comments. And if you're wondering what to study, you can use the National Careers Service website to look for courses in your area.

Financial help while studying

If you're from England and between 16 and 19, you may be able to get a 16-19 Bursary to help pay for education-related costs like books or travel. If you're from Wales, you may be able to get an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) instead.

Our pages on and help with further education help with higher education have more information about finances, benefits, and childcare options.

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Are you a teenage single parent? Find out about looking after yourself, and managing money, childcare, studies and housing for you and your child.

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Free online courses for understanding your children.

ACCESS CODE: TREE

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Course for parents, carers and young people.

Solihull Approach online courses are free for all Solihull residents to gain knowledge, confidence and skills to support their parenting.

The courses work on laptops, PCs, smart phones and tablet a modern browser is required. You can update your browser at GOV.UK.

To access the courses:

a - Go to www.inourplace.co.uk

b - Create an account using an email address and password

c - Scroll down to choose a course

d - Select the relevant course:

Understanding Your Child's Mental Health & Wellbeing

Understanding Your Child

Understanding Your Child's Feelings

Understanding Your Teenager's Brain

Understanding your child with additional needs

Understanding Your Baby

Understanding Your Pregnancy

Understanding Relationships

e - Click on 'Already got a discount coupon?'

f - Insert the access code - APPLEJACKS

g - Click 'Apply coupon'

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Solihull Approach online courses are free for all Solihull residents to gain knowledge, confidence and skills to support their parenting.

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Free mental health support service for young people aged 11-25

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Free text-based counselling and workshops for young people in Croydon, Sutton or Merton.

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Support for families in temporary accommodation

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If you are feeling low, anxious or stressed, Mind Matters Surrey can help. We're your local NHS provider offering free and confidential talking therapies  to people aged 17+ registered with a Surrey GP. Families who live in Sutton can self refer to this.

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Mind Matters Surrey - NHS Talking Therapies

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Welcome to Mind Matters

We offer easy access to mental health talking therapies to adults (17+) across Surrey

Coronavirus: During COVID-19 the majority of appointments are being delivered by telephone and video call. We are able to offer some in-person appointments to those who are unable to access our service via these means. Please discuss this with your therapist at your initial assessment.

Mind Matters free NHS talking therapies

If you are feeling low, anxious or stressed, Mind Matters Surrey can help. We're your local NHS provider offering free and confidential talking therapies to people aged 17+ registered with a Surrey GP. Our trained and accredited therapists will assess how best we can support you. We offer individual therapies, guided self-help online and group courses to help treat a wide range of mental health issues.

To easily access the service, simply click on the ' Refer yourself' link and answer the questions on our friendly Limbic chat box. This will guide you through the referral process. You do not need to be referred by a GP. If you have any questions about Mind Matters or the referral process, call 0300 330 5450 or text 07786 202565 between 8.30am-5.30pm. Please note this is not a crisis helpline or text service.

We provide videos explaining talking therapies with sub-titles in English, Arabic, Bengali, Mandarin and Urdu.

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1 in 4 people

experience mental health issues in their lifetime

You are not alone

8-12%

of the UK population suffer with depression

1 in 6 people

report experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week in England

Our videos

Access online help via our videos

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Testimonials

What people say about their experience of Mind Matters
"Superb care!"
A very quick and simple self-referral gave me access to an extremely caring and conscientious CBT psychologist and an employment advisor.

The support has been incredible!

When you are feeling down, you need to feel there are good, sincere, caring people of your side - that is what i feel Mind Matters Surrey provided.

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Home :: Mind Matters Surrey - NHS Talking Therapies

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We offer easy access to mental health talking therapies to adults (17+) across Surrey Coronavirus: During COVID-19 the majority of appointments are being delivered by telephone and video call. We are able to offer some in-person appointments to those who are unable to access our service via these means.

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Circle Journalling

We have spaces still avaliable the monthly online circle journalling sessions

These are on the first Monday of the month at 7.30pm-9.30pm

To book your place please email

Jo@suttonwomen.co.uk

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Please help us to improve services for male carers in Sutton, scan the code or follow the link to a 5 minute survey.

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FREE helpline number 0808 1961 776

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Postnatal depression (PND) is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. It can affect any parent, regardless of whether they've suffered from a mental health condition before. Postnatal depression is linked directly to giving birth and is a common problem, affecting 1 in 10 women within a year of giving birth.

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PlayWise Learning CIC (Community Interest Company) has been established to offer parents and carers of young disabled children, and the professionals that support them, with a wide range of services.  This will help reduce the impact of disability and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and support families on their journey. PlayWise offers new, innovative and bespoke interventions for families either at home, in our wonderful community hub in central Sutton or in the child’s own learning setting. PlayWise supports children aged 0-8 years.

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Sutton 0-19 Children's Service Facebook page

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Sutton Health Visiting. 1,568 likes · 9 talking about this. This is the Sutton Health Visiting Team’s Facebook page. Here you can find the latest health informa

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Nurturing Programme  (Parents) 2025.pdf (6)

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Sutton talking therapies wellbeing newsletter

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Sutton talking therapies wellbeing newsletter

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This month highlights, international self care day, birth trauma and our new Garden project group. To sign up to their free workshops follow the eventbrite link. For all other interventions you can complete their self referral form online (See Sutton talking therapies website). If you are interested in the Garden project group please contact the health visitors.

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2025 dates for Early Years Parent Coffee mornings

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Sutton Information Hub

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Together for Sutton is a organisation that can support you to access a range of services.

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This comprehensive guide from the Mental Health Foundation and the Fathers Institute can be downloaded for you to use at your leisure.

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They offer a range of services including:

counselling

classes and courses including art therapy, exercise and mindfulness

regular meet-up sessions

computer literacy and job skills

The Freedom Programme

Ask Me Domestic Abuse Ambassador training

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Counselling

We understand the impact domestic abuse has on women's self-esteem, their confidence, their ability to manage their daily lives, and their ability to look and plan for the future. Our counselling service can help you understand yourself better and come to terms with what has happened to you.

Our counselling service is free to local women who have experienced domestic abuse. We offer a minimum of 12 sessions. A free créche is available if required.

Our counsellors are fourth year student or recently qualified counsellors. Our student counsellors are supported by Heather Smiles an Integrative Humanistic Counsellor, MBACP who has many years working with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Our evaluations have shown that over 90% of our clients described the relationship with their counsellor as very good to excellent.

If you would like to refer yourself for counselling please speak to us on 020 8661 1991 or email us and we will explain in more detail how the service works and how we can support you.

The service is free but we do ask for a donation.

Freedom Programme

The Freedom Programme is a 12 week group course designed for women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. The programme helps women - make sense of what has happened to them; recognise the characteristics and early warning signs of abusers and abusive relationships; and how children are affected by being exposed to this kind of abuse - and very importantly how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed.

You can refer yourself to this programme by contacting us on 020 8661 1991 or email us we can then explain in more detail how the service works and how we can support you.

Support Groups

We run support groups twice a month for women who have completed the Freedom Programme. These group are facilitated by a qualified counsellor and crèche facilities are available. Women find this ongoing support invaluable and many still need crisis intervention which is provided by our facilitator.

Volunteers provide a court buddy system to support women who are going to court to give evidence. This is not intended to replace the Witness Service but to plug the gap when no resources are available. Women are also offered support if their children are the subject of care plans.

There is also online facilitated support via WhatsApp groups for each programme and a private Facebook page where women can share and receive support.

English as a Second Language Classes

Our English as a Second Language classes are available for women who have basic English and want to improve their language skills. The classes also help to reduce women's isolation and help them achieve personal goals whether this is wider friendships or finding employment.

The majority of women rate our classes from very good to excellent. After completing the course women tell us they have improved their English language skills, are more confident and less isolated.

The classes are free and a free créche is also available.

Please contact us on 020 8661 1991 or email us for further details. We are happy to receive contact from someone who can speak on your behalf.

Meet a Mum Toddler Group

The Women's Centre's Mother & Toddler Group offers unique and structured activities every week throughout term-time for children. We give a high level of attention to very young children whilst mothers can chat easily within their own inclusive group. All our créche workers are qualified and have many years of experience working with children.

The group is popular so please contact us on 020 8661 1991 or email us for availability.

Women's Writing Group

The Women's Writing Group meet once a month. The group is welcoming and committed to supporting each other's creativity. The group is a safe and encouraging space where writers can share their material, receive constructive feedback and discuss ideas.

Please contact us on 020 8661 1991 or email us for more details.

Parenting Workshops

We know that being a mum can be hard work. As we deal with the chaos of the morning school run, tantrums in the supermarket, and then trying to calm things down at night we can often find ourselves under pressure and left feeling that
there must be a better way.

Our workshops are designed to support you as you deal with these day to day challenges. Helping you build your own self confidence in being a mum and providing you with helpful advice and tips.

Please contact us on 020 8661 1991 or email us for further details. We always welcome new ideas for workshops so please contact us if you have any.

Step-by-Step Computer Training & Job Club

It can be difficult to access information, jobs and services if you do not have access to, or the digital skills to operate computers and the internet. At our free step-by-step Ann (Digital Champion) and Esther (IT Colleague) will guide complete beginners through the basics and beyond; or work with you at your own pace to improve your basic digital skills.

We have a welcoming IT suite and you are welcome to use our Windows 10 laptops or to bring your own Windows device. You can also use our free Wi-Fi and printing facility.

They can also assist if you are looking for or returning to work, or changing your career path by helping you register with online employment agencies, creating a LinkedIn profile, writing a CV that will get you noticed, helping with job applications and giving good advice for interviews.

45 minute computer sessions run every Wednesday between 11am and 3.30pm.

Booking is essential by calling 020 8661 1961 or email us.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Read more

Domestic abuse is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (which can take a number of different forms including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adult partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. According to Women's Aid, one in four women will experience domestic abuse during their lives and sadly, an average of 2 women per week die due to domestic violence.

About Sutton Women's Centre

Here at Sutton Women's Centre we are a key provider of domestic abuse support in the London Borough of Sutton and the surrounding area. We offer support to women who have experienced any form of domestic violence. Our domestic violence services include the Freedom Programme ( a support group aimed at survivors of domestic abuse) and counselling. Less obviously, our range of social and creative activities can help women who have experienced domestic abuse to rebuild confidence and self esteem, reduce isolation and make new friends in a relaxed and friendly setting. All of our services are confidential and non-judgemental.

What to do if you are experiencing domestic abuse or are worried about someone else.

If you have experienced sexual or domestic violence or abuse, the effects can be devastating and long-lasting. A traumatic event or exposure to long-term abuse can impact on your capability to lead a normal life - both emotionally and socially. You may be physically hurt, suffering emotional difficulties and feeling overwhelmed. You may not know who to turn to for support. You may want to report the crime against you but not know where to start. In these situations, it's important that you are able to reach out for help, to someone you can trust.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Read more

Try and keep a mobile phone with you at all times if possible. The police are a key service when in immediate danger. Do not be afraid to call 999 in an emergency.

Read more

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Counselling We understand the impact domestic abuse has on women's self-esteem, their confidence, their ability to manage their daily lives, and their ability to look and plan for the future. Our counselling service can help you understand yourself better and come to terms with what has happened to you.

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If you are 28 weeks+ pregnant, come and join us for our antenatal class 'The early weeks with your baby'. The last Saturday of every month 10:00-13:00 at the Sutton Family Hub.

We cover what to expect in the first 8 weeks after having your baby including infant feeding, expectations, managing sleep deprivation, practical tips and how to look after yourself. Partners welcome.

Refreshments provided. To book, please call 0208 770 5409

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Top tips for bonding with your newborn baby

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Top tips for bonding with your newborn baby

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Top tips for bonding with your unborn baby

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Top tips for bonding with your unborn baby

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1001 critical days

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Telephone: 020 8770 6000

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Sutton Family Information Service | Connected Places

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We provide free information, advice and guidance on childcare, early education, activities and services for children and young people aged between 0-19 (or 25 if…

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Samaritans offers confidential support that is available 24 hours a day to people who need to talk.

Telephone: 116 123 (UK) or 116 123 (ROI) for free www.samaritans.org

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Please click on the poster to access the children's centre PADLET for further information and booking.

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Please see this page for further information

If you need a professional to refer you please contact your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor.

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Sutton Mental Health Foundation Self Referral

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Sutton Mental Health Foundation Self Referral

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You can self refer or visit their website for further details on what they offer.

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SMHF self-referral form - Sutton Mental Health Foundation

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© Copyright 2021 Sutton Mental Health Foundation | All rights reserved | Registered Charity No. 1069945 | Registered in England No. 3549052

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South West London perinatal & infant mental health service Inc trauma and loss service

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South West London perinatal & infant mental health service Inc trauma and loss service

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This service is for women who are 18 years of age or over. Women with a severe and enduring mental illness or at risk of developing one, who are either pregnant or in their first postnatal year.

Severe and enduring mental illnesses are schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, other non-organic psychoses, bipolar affective disorder and recurrent moderate to severe depressive disorder (with or without psychotic symptoms).

The South West London Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Team can also refer you to the Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service if you have suffered significant birth trauma and/or had a neonatal loss / stillbirth.

If you feel you need support from this service, please speak to your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor.

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Sutton talking therapies is an integrated community based mental health and wellbeing hub which is accessible to anyone over the age of 18 living in the borough of Sutton or registered with a Sutton GP.

We offer services to those with common mental health problems or with severe mental illnesses such as psychosis, bipolar disorder and to those with personality disorders.

Sutton talking therapies will prioritise families in the Perinatal period (Conception - 1 year)

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We provide free confidential psychological and wellbeing interventions for common mental health problems (anxiety disorders or depression).

Referrals are accepted from people aged 18 years and over who are Sutton residents, or non-Sutton residents who are registered with a Sutton GP. This includes those in temporary accommodation in the borough.

Referrals from CAMHS can be considered for young people who are age 17 and 6 months with full transfer of the young person's care to be completed by 17 years and 9 months. Referrals for young people from GPs will be accepted when client is age 17 and 9 months.

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We provide free confidential psychological and wellbeing interventions for common mental health problems (anxiety disorders or depression). Referrals are accepted from people aged 18 years and over who are Sutton residents, or non-Sutton residents who are registered with a Sutton GP. This includes those in temporary accommodation in the borough.

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The Health Visiting Service provide a universal service to children and their families (0-5 years) whereby we assess, identify and support families by signposting/referring to other services if required.

If you are struggling with your emotional wellbeing, we can refer you to specialist services.

We also offer targeted groups and interventions depending on level of need.

Please contact us if you would like support accessing other services or are interested in our interventions.

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Phone: 020 8770 5409

Email: hcpadmin@sutton.gov.uk

Facebook: Sutton 0-19 Children's Services

https://www.suttonhealthandcare.nhs.uk/perinatal-mental-health

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Telephone: 020 8770 0172 Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 10am - 4pm

Email: admin@smhf.org.uk

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South West London perinatal mental health services

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South West London perinatal mental health services

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Tel: 0203 513 6577 Email: perinataladmin@swlstg.nhs.uk

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Tel: 0800 032 1411
Tel: 020 3513 4044
Email: SuttonTalkingTherapies@swlstg.nhs.uk

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Please see below a list of useful support websites.

A
Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC) Helps and supports women and their families who are affected by or worried about pre-eclampsia www.action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk

Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) Offers non-directive individualised information and support for parents making decisions around antenatal testing, including when a baby has a significant anomaly www.arc-uk.org

B
Basis (the Baby Sleep Information Source) provides access to research based evidence about biologically normal infant sleep, in forms that are accessible to parents and health practitioners https://www.basisonline.org.uk/about-us/

Birth Trauma Association Offer Support for families that have experienced a traumatic birth  https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Offers advice and treatment for termination of pregnancy in the UK www.bpas.org

E
Ectopic Pregnancy Trust Provides support and information for people who have had or been affected by an ectopic pregnancy, including health professionals www.ectopic.org.uk

F
Fertility Network UK Provides support for people dealing with infertility and/or who are facing involuntary childlessness www.fertilitynetworkuk.org

L
Lullaby trust for safer sleep - https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/

M
Marie Stopes International Independent provider of sexual and reproductive health services in the UK www.mariestopes.org.uk

Maternal Mental Health Alliance The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a UK-wide charity and network of over 120 organisations, dedicated to ensuring all women and families impacted by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care and support. https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/about/

MIND offers help whenever you might need for mental health through our information, advice and local services https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/

P
PaNDAS Our aim is to make sure no parent, family or carer feels alone. We have a variety of support services available to ensure help is delivered in a way that is right for you. No one suffering any form of mental illness should feel they’re on their own https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/who-we-are/

Pregnancy Sickness Support Pregnancy Sickness Support was founded in 2002 and is the only registered UK charity working to improve care, treatment and support for women and pregnant people suffering from nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and the severe form of the condition, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).  https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/about/

R
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity Offers support to families in England with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

Relate Offers relationship support to help people strengthen their relationships www.relate.org.uk

T
Together for Short Lives Offers support for families with children who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions and professionals and services (including children’s hospices) www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk

Tommy's Pregnancy charity - https://www.tommys.org/about-us

Twins Trust offers support for families with multiple births https://twinstrust.org/

Recommended Apps
MUSH mums

My prem baby App by tommy's

Baby Buddy

Born to move

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Please scan this QR code to access the Infant Feeding support page.

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Mental Health Services and support with children over two years of age

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Mental Health Services and support with children over two years of age

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Be well hubs A monthly drop-in session for parents and carers, following our popular Rhymetime sessions at Sutton Central Library and Wallington Library. You'll be greeted by team members from Sutton's Family Hubs, Health Visiting and School Nursing, Sutton Mental health Foundation, the NHS and Cultural Services.

Come along to receive free advice and signposting to local support services and collect a free Bookstart pack for your child.

Sutton uplift offer a range of talking therapies for anyone over 18years of age struggling with their emotional wellbeing.

Sutton mental health foundation offers a range of support for anyone struggling with their mental well being.

Home-Start Sutton offers volunteer befriending support along with practical and emotional guidance to families who are dealing with some of life’s most difficult challenges.

Children's centres offer support and sessions for families with children 0-5 years old and have a early help team

The family information service (FIS) provide free information, advice and guidance on childcare, early education, activities and services for children and young people aged between 0-19 (or 25 if the young person has an additional need) in the London Borough of Sutton.

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Bliss for babies born premature or sick. Their support covers all aspects of neonatal care and support for when leaving the hospital including starting solids advice:

https://www.bliss.org.uk/

Tommy's Pregnancy charity has a 'My prem baby' free app for support for parents with a prem baby:

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/premature-birth/my-prem-baby-app

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Please see the following links:

Child Bereavement UK offer free, confidential bereavement support for individuals, couples, children, young people, and families, by telephone, video or instant messenger, wherever you live in the UK. They also offer face to face contact if requested.

They have a helpline - 0800 02 888 40

Or visit their website - https://www.childbereavementuk.org/Listing/Category/working-with-bereaved-families

SANDs works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die.

See also link to the SANDs website for further resources - https://www.sands.org.uk/ who also have a helpline 0808 164 3332

Bereavement Advice Centre, Offers information and advice for people with practical concerns after the death of someone close to them - www.bereavementadvice.org

Bliss, Offers support for families of premature or sick babies, including bereaved families - www.bliss.org.uk

Lullaby Trust, Offers support and advice for parents whose baby dies suddenly and advice on safer sleep - www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Miscarriage Association, Offers support and information for individuals affected by pregnancy loss and health care professionals. www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

Multiple Births Foundation (MBF), Provides support and information for multiple birth families (including bereavement support) and information for professionals www.multiplebirths.org.uk

Petals Charity, the baby loss counselling charity https://petalscharity.org/

Tamba Bereavement Support Group, Offers support for families who have lost one or more children from a multiple birth during pregnancy, birth or at any time afterwards - www.tamba.org.uk/bereavement (Part of the Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba) - www.tamba.org.uk)

Tommy's pregnancy charity - https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support

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Sutton childrens Centre has a Young parents Stay & Play: (0-5 years) A fun and relaxed space for parents under the age of 25 to socialise with other young parents with babies and children of similar ages -

https://www.sutton.gov.uk/documents/20124/209999/Spring+programme+2023+.pptx+%281%29.pdf/cfe52bc0-24ab-2d50-94bf-1c9797aa6d0d?t=1674126785450

The health visiting service run an Enhanced Parent Pathway (EPP) for mums under 21 years old, run jointly between the health visitor and community nursery nurse.

The midwifery service at St Helier have a specialist Young Mum midwife. The specialist health visitor for perinatal and infant mental health and Young Mum midwife are currently

providing a joint midwife clinic and health promotion session at the family hub in Sutton library.

Young Mums mums can also be offered the Solihull parenting resources (see the Solihull page under other resources).

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It is important to remember that dad/partners may also experience mental health difficulties at this time.

Additionally dad/partner may be finding it difficult to know how to support a partner that is suffering from perinatal mental health illness.

For further information on support available for dads/partners visit.

Families and Partners

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/partners/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/for-friends-and-family/

Male Carers

https://www.dadsmatteruk.org/dads-mental-health/mums-mental-health-getting-support-for-your-partner/

Emotional-health-and-wellbeing-fathers/

Depression as a new dad | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems

Sutton Men in Sheds provides opportunities for men to meet, chat, access support they need, create and pursue shared interest and develop social connections. https://www.facebook.com/groups/739150393315561/

Contact meninsheds@communityactionsutton.org.uk

Anna Freud Centre: Mind the Dad focuses on dads who feel they could benefit from support at this time: they provide free online support either with your baby or in virtual groups, where you can meet other dads in similar situations, at flexible hours.

https://www.annafreud.org/early-years/our-projects-supporting-under-fives/mind-the-dad/

The Lullaby Trust has a dads zone with useful information on safe sleep - https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/dads-zone/

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Whilst children centre’s do not offer a specific perinatal mental health support, they offer a space for families to meet the social and emotional needs of the parents and child/ren.

They also offer Early Help Intervention and support for all family members, including a male carers group.

Children's Centres are open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.

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Home-Start Sutton is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with young children.

We provide unique, needs led, responsive support to Sutton children and families. Our core home-visiting service offered by trained and professionally supported parent volunteers.

Volunteer mentoring, Support for families with children under 5. Trained and professionally supported parent volunteers offer weekly support to the whole family telephone or virtual. Befriending for families, who live in the borough and are experiencing stress. Reducing the effects of isolation in families.

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The role of Sutton mental health foundation in perinatal mental health

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The role of Sutton mental health foundation in perinatal mental health

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Sutton Mental Health Foundation (SMHF) is a local charity supporting Adults aged 18 - 65 who have mental health challenges.

SMHF can offer a service of trained peer support workers who can support parents experiencing Perinatal Mental Health

SMHF has male volunteers would be able to support Dads as well SMHF is unable to visit in the home

They also have Sutton Crisis Café which is a non-judgemental service for people in mild to moderate mental health crisis, who just need a safe place to be and someone to listen.

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All hospitals have specialist perinatal mental health midwifery teams.

If you are currently pregnant and need additional support, please speak to your midwife at your next appointment.

Midwives will work closely with other services such as your GP and Health Visitor to ensure you get joint up care.

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It is recommended that anyone struggling with their emotional wellbeing contact their GP for advice.

This may include advice around medication and referrals to specialist services.

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If you are in an acute crisis, please call the crisis line number on 0800 028 8000 - 24/7

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This padlet provides an overview of all Perinatal and Infant Mental Health services and resources for families living in Sutton.

It also provides links to other external services where there are potential triggers affecting mental well being such as bereavement.

Explore the resources and information by navigating through the padlet.  Within each section, you will find information for services and groups provided within Sutton and links for self referral where appropriate.

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Each section is titled so that you can navigate what you would like to look at.

You can then scroll down to see other information