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Health Visiting - Building Relationships video

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Health Visiting - Building Relationships video

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Health Visiting - Building Relationships

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Free to download, easy to navigate parenting app.

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Baby Buddy 2.0 is launched - here is what parents have to say

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Independent debt, law, housing and health advice

Citizens Advice Eastbourne Link

The Hastings and Rother Citizens Advice Bureau Link

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Volunteer with us

Over 16,000 highly trained volunteers support the delivery of our service. Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and find volunteering rewarding, challenging and fun. We have a range of roles in local Citizens Advice and Witness Service, want to find out more?

Our volunteer opportunities

Find your local Citizens Advice

For more information and advice

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Online free advice from Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem. Our research enables us to campaign on issues affecting people's lives.

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Eastbourne Hub: 01323 432 300
High Weald Hub: 01323 464 000
Hastings Hub: 01424 726 446
Rother Hub: 01424 723 070

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Health Visiting - Dads and Non Birthing Partners

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Support around employment & healthcare

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challenging inequality : promoting wellbeing

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Free Bumps & Babies groups in East Sussex ( Please check the above link for details).

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From coffee groups to meet-ups for new dads, our local groups and activities can help you build up a supportive social network.

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Perinatal Treatment Website - There are a range of treatments and resources available on this site.

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Feeling bad as a new dad: Louis' story | BBC Tomorrow's World

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Parents in Mind East Sussex Promo Event 

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On Saturday 17th June 2023, we had the delight of sharing the good word of NCT Parents In Mind East Sussex at our promo event in Eastbourne.

💚 We spoke about whom we are and what we offer
💚  We met local parents whom shared their perinatal mental health experiences and self referred into our free peer support service
💚  We spoke to local parents whom have lived this experience and want to express their interest in volunteering for the project
💚 We gave away lots of useful freebies from dried goods to baby essentials and NCT PIM merch!
💚We continue to spread the word - you are NOT alone in this parenting journey

A fabulous morning run by our local PIM team!

For more info please get in touch at: parentsinmind.es@nct.org.uk

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Acacia Family Support Link

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Acacia Family Support Link

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Building a society that supports men as hands-on fathers and father-figures

The Fatherhood Institute is a UK charity working to build a society that values, prepares, and supports men as involved fathers and caregivers.

Evidence shows that involved fatherhood has unique and significant impacts on children, mothers, and fathers themselves; improves children's wellbeing and outcomes; and helps progress towards gender equality at home and in the workplace.

Our work focuses on research, policy, and practice. We publish research reviews, take part in new studies and test promising family interventions; advocate for policy change; produce practice resources; and train practitioners in perinatal, early years, education, and social care services.

In July 2023 we started a Parliamentary petition calling on the Government to improve its statutory paternity offer, by:

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Paying employed fathers two weeks' paternity leave at 90% of salary

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Introducing a 'daddy month' of four weeks' parental leave, paid at the same rate

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Introducing a Paternity Allowance for fathers who are not employees

If 10,000 people sign the petition by 11 January 2024, the Government will have to respond to this proposal.

Our policy work streams

Discover our work to create more father-inclusive policies and services

Our research

Read our high-quality research reviews, co-investigations with eminent universities, and empirical research

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The Fatherhood Institute is a UK charity working to build a society that values, prepares, and supports men as involved fathers and caregivers. Our work focuses on research, policy, and practice.

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Early Help Service 0-19 & Children's Centres Info

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Early Help Service 0-19 & Children's Centres Info

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Eastbourne Devonshire Children's Centre

Peacehaven Children's Centre

St Leonard's Children Centre

To find your local Children's Centre, please click here

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"The DadPad was created because babies don’t come with a set of instructions, and dads told us they wanted important information on what to expect and how to care for their baby. We listened to what dads, their partners and professionals asked for and combined it all in this new DadPad for dads-to-be." ( App Charges may apply - please access website for further info!)**

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I was a bit scared when we found out we were having a baby, obviously happy, but a bit scared and in the beginning I was a bit clueless. The child development part is my favourite bit, but there's things in there, like things about mental health, that I didn't know about and that I didn't know you needed to know about.

Ross, 22

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DadPad | The Essential Guide for New Dads | Support Guide for New Dads

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I was a bit scared when we found out we were having a baby, obviously happy, but a bit scared and in the beginning I was a bit clueless. The child development part is my favourite bit, but there's things in there, like things about mental health, that I didn't know about and that I didn't know you needed to know about.

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If you have any concerns around your pregnancy please call Maternity Triage on: 0300 131 5341

Eastbourne Midwifery Unit: 0300 131 5342
Conquest Hospital - Consultant led Maternity Unit: 0300 131 4500

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit
Women whom are less than 13 weeks gestation with concerns around their pregnancy please contact:
Mirrlees Ward, Conquest Hospital: (01424) 755255 Ext: 7047

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit Women’s Health Outpatients,  Eastbourne District General Hospital: (01323) 417400 Ext: 4158 (after 4pm 4911)

Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) is located at the Conquest hospital Level 1:  (01424) 757033

Gynaecology patient information leaflets - Further information for Gynaecology queries or concerns.

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Maternity - East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

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These pages provide general information about our services and include video tours of Conquest Hospital Maternity Unit and Eastbourne Midwifery Unit which guide you through your pregnancy journey.

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Health Visiting - Caring for your Mental Health Video

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Health Visiting - Caring for your Mental Health Video

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Health Visiting - Caring for your Mental Health

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Local Sussex Maternity & Neonatal System - Emotional Care

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Local Sussex Maternity & Neonatal System - Emotional Care

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Sussex Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) are here to support maternity service teams and service users across Sussex.

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Accessibility Tools

Your choices will be saved as a non-identifying cookie. This means that each time you load a webpage from this website, your chosen accessibility options will be applied. These cookies will last for 28 days before resetting.

Text To Speech

When text to speech is active, you can click the play button to hear the whole sites content read aloud. You can also highlight a section of text and press play, to hear only the highlighted text.

Translate

Choose a language from the Google provided selector below.

Screen Mask

A screen mask is a reading tool which follows your cursor. It allows you to remove distractions from around the page and gives a clear area of focus.

Text Size

Use these icons to increase, decrease or reset the size of the text throughout the site.

Contrast

Change the colour of text and the background of the site with the selectors below. This removes images and makes the content across the site easier to read.

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MVPs Maternity Voices Partnership | Local Maternity Care Sussex

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Your choices will be saved as a non-identifying cookie. This means that each time you load a webpage from this website, your chosen accessibility options will be applied. These cookies will last for 28 days before resetting. When text to speech is active, you can click the play button to hear the whole sites content read aloud.

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"Evidence based resource for all perinatal treatment with online resources and self help courses for pregnant women and fathers".

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Health in Mind services are free for the residents of East Sussex.
Please scan QR code on the leaflet to self refer or call:  0300 00 30 130 (Lines open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)

Or email: spnt.healthinmind@nhs.net

https://www.healthinmind.org.uk/ - Visit the website for self referral or further information on IAPT - Health in Mind.

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PiM Peer Support offered at Peacehaven Children Centre 💚

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PiM Peer Support offered at Peacehaven Children Centre 💚

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Sussex Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service

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Sussex Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service

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A supportive service for mothers who are experiencing, or who have previously experienced, severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or up to a year after birth.
* Please speak to your health care professional should you feel this service would be helpful.*

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Our community-based service supports mothers who are experiencing, or who have previously experienced, severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or up to a year after birth.

We provide support to women and their families across East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and East Surrey. Our leaflet explains the service in more detail:

Specialist perinatal mental health service leaflet

Location information for this service

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Our community-based service supports mothers who are experiencing, or who have previously experienced, severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or up to a year after birth. We provide support to women and their families across East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and East Surrey.

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Practical & emotional support & general info about caring for a baby.
Visit the website, or call the support line (8am-12am daily)
0300 330 0700

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We're here to support you and your unique experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

Our vision is that everyone who becomes a parent feels confident, connected, and safe.

We share evidence-based information you can trust

We create opportunities to connect with other parents

We listen to your experiences, amplify all parents' voices and campaign for change

We are strong advocates for improving experiences of pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, and early parenthood, equitably, for all parents.

Access networks of support and build friendships through our courses and community events.

Use our resources to make informed decisions that feel right for you.

Information for parents

If you're pregnant or a new parent, we know that you will have a number of questions and concerns about coronavirus. In our sections below, we've created a range of articles about how coronavirus might affect your pregnancy, birth and early days as a parent.

Pregnancy

When it comes to your pregnancy, we've got it covered. You'll find everything you need to help you feel confident and reassured over the next nine months right here.
Find out more

Labour & birth

Thinking about how, what happens and where to give birth? We're here to help you feel more confident. We've got information and tips on everything you need to know.
Find out more

Baby & toddler

Your baby's arrived and you've probably got 101 things on your mind. Don't worry, you're not on your own. We're here with information and support as your baby develops.
Find out more

Life as a parent

You've just had a baby and everyone is focused on your little one. But how about you? We're with you on your journey with support and tips from other mums and dads.
Find out more

Courses and workshops

Interactive, engaging and social, our antenatal course is a fun and exciting way to grow your knowledge of birth and early parenthood, and make life-long friends.
View all courses & workshops

Local activities and meet-ups

Our local activities and meet-ups can help you build up a supportive social network around you.

Support NCT Charity by becoming a member

Join NCT and there's great member benefits for you - exclusive live talks, money-saving offers & competitions, digital magazine & quick-read newsletters, plus early entry to every NCT Nearly New Sale - whilst you help fund free support for others.

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The UK's leading charity for parents | NCT

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We are the charity that supports people as they become parents. We're here for you through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

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Breastmilk is the bespoke food for a human infant. Breastfeeding ensures all the infants' nutrient needs are met, encourages optimum infant development, facilitates mother and child bonding, and protects the infants' and mothers' health in the short and long term.
In order to protect breastfeeding and support families who use formula it is important that all those who offer advice to families have accurate and unbiased information about infant feeding, including clear information about infant formula.

We also provide information and advice on eating well for new mothers, particularly those who are breastfeeding, and information and practical advice on introducing solid foods to babies, with recipes and photos to show the sorts of foods, and amounts of foods, that will give them a good start to their eating journey. On this webpage you can also find our eating well guide for vegan infants and under 5s, a recipe book with simple, cost-effective ideas for the whole family and a poster which provides a simple guide to eating well for infants.

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Eating Well resources - First Steps Nutrition Trust

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The resources produced by First Steps Nutrition Trust provide help and support for pregnancy, infants and new mums, and young children up to five years.

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Welcome to Parents in Mind! Our Free Parent to Parent Peer Support Service 💚

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Welcome to Parents in Mind! Our Free Parent to Parent Peer Support Service 💚

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Meet Aiste, our NCT Parents in Mind Regional Manager for East Sussex.

Aiste started her Parents in Mind journey when she began volunteering for our NCT North West Parents in Mind division. With first hand experience and receiving her accreditation in Peer Support Training, she took on this role in July 2022 when NCT Parents in Mind began mobilising peer support in East Sussex!

She will be one of the first voices you hear when you self refer or be referred via a Health care professional into our Peer Support service.

If you have any questions, or would like further information on accessing peer support from NCT Parents in Mind, please email or call us! :)

Enjoy the scroll...!

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"THE AIM OF MANKIND is to provide a safe place for men to share how they are feeling without feeling judged and to support those who are struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing."

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Weʼre raising £2,000 to help ManKind, the support group for men, fund counselling.
Mankind holds weekly support group meetings in Eastbourne and Heathfield. The groups provide safe spaces for men to talk about their feelings. Mankind also aims to remove the stigma attached to poor mental health. Read More

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Mankind Support Group - Mental Health Help for Men

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Mankind is an informal support group for men to meet, talk and seek the help they need. Mental Health Help for Men.

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families

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Meet Ruby our Peer Support Coordinator 💚

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Meet Ruby our Peer Support Coordinator 💚

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Ruby is our Peer Support Coordinator and another friendly voice you will hear upon accessing the service. She has also completed her peer support training and been awarded her accreditation in peer support.

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Meet Lauren, Our new Peer Support Coordinator 💚

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Meet Lauren, Our new Peer Support Coordinator 💚

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Lauren is our new Peer Support Coordinator and one of the first friendly voices you will hear upon accessing the service. She has also completed her peer support training and been awarded her accreditation in peer support.

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Home Start East Sussex Lotus Domestic Abuse Recovery Programme

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Home Start East Sussex Lotus Domestic Abuse Recovery Programme

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A six-week group run online for females who have experienced domestic abuse but are now away from the relationship and feel safe

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Our Lotus programme provides:

Guidance for Professionals

Eligibility is based on risk and sex - our Lotus programme offers help to female victim-survivors of domestic abuse, who are no longer in an intimate relationship with their perpetrator and now consider themselves safe.

Females who have children with their ex-partner, and therefore still have contact with them for this reason, are of course eligible.

Our Lotus programme is for cis women (people assigned female at birth whose gender aligns with this). If you are trans or non-binary we offer immediate, tailored and discreet, 1-2-1 support with our IDVA's. Please go to this service page to access this here.

We only require a DASH Risk Identification Checklist to be submitted if there has been abuse within the past three months, but please be aware that accepted risk level for clients would be a score between 0-9.

Anyone can submit a Referral whether it is on behalf of themselves or others.

If an agency would like us to support one of their service users, it is their responsibility to consult with them and get consent to share the personal information requested on the form. We will follow up all Intake Forms.

Alternatively, clients can phone one of our friendly IDVAs for a chat about the service. Jordan, 07522 386 033 (Mon-Weds) or Natalie 07516 664 105 (Mon-Fri).
We will always respond to you within five working days.

Please click here to fill in our Home-Start referral form.

If an agency is referring on behalf of a service user, they must ensure that the service user has given consent for the referral. Clients should have been free from abuse for a minimum of three months and should score less than 9 on a DASH RIC.

Please also see our Guidance for Professional Referrers.

Alternatively, clients can phone one of our friendly IDVAs for a chat about the service. Jordan, 07522 386 033 (Mon-Weds) or Natalie 07516 664 105 (Mon-Fri).
We will always respond to you within five working days.

HSES provides a valuable service as part of the coordinated response to domestic abuse in East Sussex, and we are committed to working with other agencies to promote, support and improve the response locally to victims of domestic abuse.

Since our programme is unsuitable for those currently at risk, anyone who self-refers and is (i) still living with their perpetrator, (ii) would score 10-13 on a DASH Risk Identification Checklist or (iii) is not female will be signposted to CGL. Those with scores of 14+ will be referred straight to MARAC.

As we will have no working knowledge of the victim-survivor, professional referrals that are ineligible will be returned with a recommendation of where they should be signposted/referred.

At the moment, the Lotus domestic abuse recovery programme can only offer group support - we do not have the capacity or funding to provide one-to-one IDVA support.
Where it is identified that a client needs additional support that we are unable to provide, we will signpost clients to a specialist local service.

We aim to make first contact with new clients within five days of receiving all key referral information, to acknowledge receipt of the referral, confirm eligibility and share when and where the next programmes will run.

Once eligibility is confirmed, clients will either be allocated to a specific programme or join a waiting list depending on whether a programme is planned in the area. We will discuss information sharing and support planning with clients. When appropriate, we will also discuss the progress of the referral with referrers, subject to data protection.

We carry out an Intake and Risk Assessment telephone call in the month leading up to the programme starts, to discuss the programme with clients and review risk.
In cases where a programme is not starting within the next month, a call will be scheduled nearer to the start date to ensure the risk assessment is up to date.

Home-Start East Sussex aims to run six programmes a year in various towns throughout the county.

We try to provide support to eligible victim-survivors as soon as possible, but where there is not a programme scheduled in the local area, the client will be asked if they want to go on a waiting list.

Similarly, if a referral has been made after week one of the programme, the client will be added to the waiting list to attend a future programme. The length of time a client remains on the waiting list before attending a programme depends on the client's location and flexibility of travel.
Referrers will be updated if a client has been enrolled onto a programme or added to the waiting list.

The eligibility criteria for the group includes that clients are safe to attend, although of course this may change over time.

We are aware that simply by attending the programme, clients may be more at risk, and we ensure that they are aware of this. Our welfare check process will be clearly explained to clients during their Intake and Risk Assessment phone call prior to the programme, and on week one of the programme.

For any individuals whose risk escalates during the programme, appropriate safety planning will be carried out. Clients are given a contact telephone number to support safety in between sessions.
Time is also allocated at the end of each session to speak individually with staff so that risk reviews can continue to be conducted throughout.

Our aim is to empower clients to move from 'victim' to survivor' by helping them to process their experience and have the skills and confidence to keep themselves and their children safe in future relationships.

Primarily through discussion and videos, the programme helps clients to understand and identify abuse, improve life skills, increase confidence and build resilience. It also helps them to identify and understand how their experience of domestic abuse has affected them as an individual, as a parent and the impact the experience has had on their children.

The programme helps women to draw on and recognise their own strengths, whilst providing a form of community support. It is delivered with the knowledge that victim-survivors are the experts in their own lives and are not passive, as in our experience all victims of violence resist violence in their own way. Support plans are created for each client and we have found we have been able to effectively support those with literacy issues and most disabilities.

There are six weekly sessions each lasting 3.5 hours, which includes some unstructured time to build friendships with other clients. Groups are held in safe, accessible community locations with around 10 women attending each programme.
Sessions are run by sensitive and understanding facilitators who tailor the programme to client's individual needs - in a prior Intake and Risk Assessment phone call, we ask individual clients what they want to gain from the group, and this is taken into consideration during the planning of the programme.

All essential information is recorded within individual case files, which are only accessible to authorised staff.

We treat all information with strict confidentiality except where there are child or adult safeguarding concerns. Our procedures of information sharing with other services and the role of other agencies is clearly explained to clients during the intake process.
Clients are provided with a privacy statement to sign outlining all confidentiality procedures.

Home-Start East Sussex's Lotus programme has been awarded the nationally recognised SafeLives Leading Lights quality standard.

Leading Lights is an accreditation programme which recognises and rewards good and safe practice in community based domestic abuse services across the UK.

Leading Lights offers services, partner agencies and commissioners a set of standards for supporting victims of domestic abuse through a risk led response, and is designed to ensure that victim-survivors of domestic violence receive the same level of service, regardless of where they are in the country.

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Females Who Have Experienced Domestic Abuse - Home Start East Sussex

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Browsing Safely Please prioritise your wellbeing and look after yourself. If you are worried that someone may see that you have visited our website, please see the Women's Aid guide to browsing safely. Females Who Have Experienced Domestic Abuse Supporting females who have experienced domestic abuse but are now away from this relationship and feel ...

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Meet Nikki, our Eastbourne Team Leader 💚

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Meet Nikki, our Eastbourne Team Leader 💚

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Nikki joined in November 2022 as our local Team Leader for Eastbourne after completing and gaining full accreditation in Peer Support Training. Nikki will be popping into the local Eastbourne space every few weeks to say hello! She is also someone that will be available for a chat over the phone too!

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Hearts & Minds are a partnership of three perinatal mental health charities with more than 30 years' combined experience of growing grassroots services from scratch, as well as lived experience of the challenges faced by parents.

A website full of videos/ support for parents links and much more!

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The Hearts and Minds Partnership is a collective of three perinatal mental health charities: Acacia Family Support (West Midlands), Bluebell Care (South West) and Smile Group (North West). We’re not a membership organisation, but a thriving community of grassroots perinatal mental health services c…

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Health in Mind available for perinatal people and partners

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Health in Mind available for perinatal people and partners

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Self refer for therapeutic intervention – perinatal people (including partners) get prioritised.

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We all go through low points at times in our lives and it is not unusual to experience symptoms such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Health in Mind is the free NHS Talking Therapies Service for anyone in East Sussex experiencing these kinds of emotional or psychological difficulties.

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FREE Talking Therapies and mental health support service in East Sussex. For people with mild to moderate Anxiety, Depression, Low Mood and Stress. Rapid access courses and 1 to 1 Therapy.

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PiM Peer Support offered at The Robsack Children's Centre in St Leonards! 💚

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PiM Peer Support offered at The Robsack Children's Centre in St Leonards! 💚

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New video to come of our new venue in Hastings!

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How you support your babies brain development

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PiM Peer Support offered at Devonshire Children's centre 💚

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PiM Peer Support offered at Devonshire Children's centre 💚

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Take a quick peak at our local children's centre in Eastbourne!

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Polly joined the team in May 2023 and has completed her accredited peer support training. She looks after our lovely team and service users in Peacehaven.

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24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

General: 0300 323 9985

Eastbourne office number: 01323 417 598

Hastings office number: 01424 716 629

Sussex Police:
In a non-emergency: 101  (You can also use 101 to give information to the police or make an enquiry).
In an emergency: 999

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Coronavirus info

The way you get support from us will be different for a while, but we are still here. We'll do everything we can to help you stay safe. We'll be doing appointments over the phone for now.

In an emergency call the police on 999.

Find the latest information on coronavirus from the NHS and GOV.UK.

How we can help

We offer support to anyone aged 16+ who has been affected by domestic abuse and violence.

Domestic abuse can affect everyone differently. It is any physical, psychological, emotional or economic abuse by someone close to you. It includes stalking and harassment, forced marriage, so-called 'honour crimes' and female genital mutilation.

If you would like guidance or support around domestic abuse, we're here to help.

We take referrals from professionals, or you can get in touch yourself. If your needs aren't right for our service, we can help you find the support you need.

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The way you get support from us will be different for a while, but we are still here. We'll do everything we can to help you stay safe. We'll be doing appointments over the phone for now. In an emergency call the police on 999.

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Support network for dads and dads communities

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"The Dad Course exists to build confidence, skills and knowledge in fathers-to-be to help them be the dads they want to be." - The Dad Course

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The Dad Course starts with founder Dave's own journey into fatherhood:

"Throughout my wife's first pregnancy I was keen to support her however I could and took the time to learn what I could about how to be a good dad as well as chatting to friends who already had children. By the time she had reached full-term I was ready to go... or so I thought!

The birth of my son was the happiest day of my life. On that morning as the midwives were, ahem, 'seeing' to my partner (more about this on the course!) the midwives checked my son over and asked me if I could put a nappy and a babygrow on him. Everything in me wanted to say yes but all I could manage back was a blank stare - I hadn't prepared for this!

I was quickly realising how little I knew! I didn't know how, and after a long labour, now was not the time to learn... With more than a little embarassment, I asked the midwife to do it for me and watched as she put his nappy on and dressed him up. I don't look back on this experience with shame, but this is one of the many things that I wish I had learned before I had my baby.

With the support of lots of amazing friends and family I learned over time all that I needed to know to keep my son happy and healthy. I've been fortunate to have a strong group of friends who became dads at roughly the same time as me who I could chat and be really honest with, which also helped keep me sane.

But there were so many things I wish I had been told as a dad, practical skills I could have picked up beforehand and also the importance of having a community of dads I could be really honest with. The Dad Course is all about providing these things before your child is born, rather than leaving you playing catch up after they're born.

The Dad Course Is Born...

Just after my son turned one I advertised the first Dad Course. I booked a damp little community room and put out the word that any dads-to-be on the lookout for support were very welcome. On a cold January day in 2016 6 guys took the risk on turning up and seeing what they could learn. I don't think any of us knew what to expect!

Along with a couple of other dad friends we talked about our experiences of birth and what we were able to do to support our partners. We talked about the ups and downs of parenting, with no gloss or need to pretend that it's easy. We talked about relationships, sex, loneliness and the tough moments. We taught some practical skills and the guys practiced putting nappies on dolls! At the end of the day it felt like we'd made a real bond, and it was clear we were on to something. We headed off to the pub together for a drink, and my head was whirring. As I suspected, this really was something that worked, and was needed.

Over the next 4 or so years we refined, developed and improved the content, becoming a finely tuned little operation that attracted guys from across the city and further afield. Hundreds of guys took part on the in-person course and we have always received great feedback. For us it's all about you, so when we see guys going away more confident and prepated for fatherhood it's so satisfying.

The journey online...

When the Covid pandemic began, to be honest, we nearly threw in the towel. Would online really work? Could we make it engaging and interesting enough? Could we give dads-to-be the stuff they really needed through an online course?

Despite the uncertainty we started running The Dad Course on Zoom, and with a few improvements I was absolutely delighted to give a positive answer to all these questions above! After initially running on Zoom, we crowdfunded for and developed the version of The Dad Course you see now in 2020, launching in October of that year.

I now have to say that I absolutely love working online! In the last 2 years we have worked with hundreds of dads from all around the world online and it's been a fantastic journey.

We have big plans for 2022 and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming more dads-to-be on their fatherhood journey, and developing our own online offering further in the coming times.
Click here to read more about The Dad Course. Click here to book your place on The Dad Course now.

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The Dad Course has been supporting dads-to-be prepare for fatherhood for more than six years. From not being able to put a babygrow on his son the day he was born, to running a parenting course for dads-to-be - it has been quite a journey for Dave Perrins and The Dad Course.

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A charity which works with people that are hard of hearing. Please visit website for more information/ referrals.

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We are a passionate and caring Deaf-led team working towards a future where there are no barriers to good health and wellbeing for Deaf people.

We partner with the NHS and service providers across the country.

We are one of the UK's largest employers of Deaf people, and most hearing staff in our projects and services are fluent sign language users.

Our history

Our year in review

Progress, challenges, changes, impacts and insights

How healthy are Deaf people?

Sick Of It is SignHealth's ground-breaking report uncovering the health disparity Deaf people face in the UK. Published in 2014, the report has influenced policy and changed practices in the NHS to improve communication and reduce barriers.

Report: Sick Of It

How We Are Funded

Most of the costs for the services we provide are covered by the NHS, local authority funding and other social services.

SignHealth's Homes are established where there is an identified need and local authority support. Capital funding for the housing projects comes from the Housing Corporation and SignHealth funds the commissioning costs. Fees paid by Local Authorities for their clients cover operating costs.

SignHealth's campaigns, research projects, overhead costs, administration, and communications are funded by the kind support of trust funds and grants, fundraising activities and donations.

Find out more on our fundraising page.

Cookies Policy Our website uses cookies to make things simpler. You can read more about our cookie policy and change your browser settings at any time. ACCEPT

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We are a passionate and caring Deaf-led team working towards a future where there are no barriers to good health and wellbeing for Deaf people. We partner with the NHS and service providers across the country. We are one of the UK's largest employers of Deaf people, and most hearing staff in our projects and services are fluent sign language users.

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Julie joined our NCT Parents in Mind Volunteering programme in Sep 2022 after completing her full accreditation in Peer Support Training. Julie is our local Hastings volunteer so you'll be seeing her in our support spaces on a Monday.

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Alice joined us Sep 2022 and one of our first recruited volunteers - she has full accredited training in Peer Support and supports our local mums & birthing people in Hastings as well as over the phone!

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Baby Basics Hastings (Charity Organisation)

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Baby Basics Hastings (Charity Organisation)

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The aim of Baby Basics Hastings is to support expectant mothers who will struggle to meet the financial and practical needs of their new baby when he or she arrives.
Referral by HCP (HealthCare Professional Only - please speak to your HCP/GP)

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We receive referrals local from midwives, health visitors and organisations working with disadvantaged groups. When an expectant mum is referred to us, about a month before her due date we provide a Moses' basket filled with basic baby essentials.

If you would like to donate brand new items, here are some of the things we include:

Nappies suitable for a newborn

Baby wipes

Baby shampoo

Baby soap/wash

Shampoo for mum

Shower gel for mum

Maternity towels

Disposable breast pads

Toothbrush and paste for mum

Moses' basket mattress

Baby toy

Chocolates for mum

If you would like to donate new or good quality second-hand items, here are some of the things we include:

Moses' basket

Moses' basket sheets

Moses' basket blankets

Baby vests (first size)

Baby grows (first size)

Cardigan or jumper (first size)

Hats, mittens and gloves for new born

Baby bath towel

Baby coat

If you would like to make a donation, please take items to the Hastings Centre on:

Tuesdays, 10am-11.30am, basket outside Totz Klub parent and toddler group (term-time only)

Thursdays, 9am-12pm, Larch Room at the Hastings Centre

If you are a healthcare professional and would like to enquire about making referrals to Baby Basics, please call us on 07821 329648. (Unfortunately we cannot accept self-referrals. If you are pregnant and would like to be referred to Baby Basics, please speak with your midwife or health professional and ask them to call us. Thank you.)

If you would like more information about what we do, please visit our Facebook page.

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Baby Basics | King's Church Hastings & Bexhill | One Church. Four Venues.

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We receive referrals local from midwives, health visitors and organisations working with disadvantaged groups. When an expectant mum is referred to us, about a month before her due date we provide a Moses' basket filled with basic baby essentials.

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Ruth has been volunteering in Peacehaven since the group began. She has completed our accredited training in Peer Supporting and is there to welcome you into our group space.

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Bourne This Way - LGTBQ+ Parental Support 

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Bourne This Way - LGTBQ+ Parental Support 

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Eastbourne, East Sussex LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group

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WHO WE ARE Welcome to Bourne this Way. We are an LGBTQ+ Parent support group based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. We aim to provide a non-judgmental, friendly, inclusive space open to ALL LGBTQ+ parents and their children, as well as prospective parents.

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Support for families of LGBT+ people.

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Who do you think of as your family? Is it only your relatives? Most people have a lot of friends and colleagues, and would consider these as important to them as their immediate relatives! Family is important! We all need our families, large and small. We rely on each other, care for each other, love one another. Family is precious to everyone, even to LGBT people.

In the links below you will find information on some of the services provided by The Rainbow Project and our partners in HEReNI and Cara-Friend related to LGBT people and their families including support for same sex parented families, support for gay and bi dads and support for families of LGBT people. For information on support for lesbian, gay and bisexual mothers please check out our partners at HEReNI.

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Family Support Who do you think of as your family? Is it only your relatives? Most people have a lot of friends and colleagues, and would consider these as important to them as their immediate relatives! Family is important! We all need our families, large and small.

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Support for LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood.

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We are the LGBT Mummies organisation.

Our sole purpose is to support LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood.
We provide guidance on the different family creation pathways through our website, social channels & support groups, whilst providing access to our global community to meet other like-minded families.

From providing guidance on fertility clinics & sperm banks, resources, connecting you to supporting organisations, brands, sharing studies, our private support groups, to celebrating & sharing your lived experiences & our annual events where families come together.

Whether you are thinking of starting a family or have children already
by home insemination, fertility treatment, surrogacy, adoption, fostering. Whether you're a single parent, couple,
co-parent, poly family or a stepparent, all families are welcome.

Our mission is to acquire true equity & equality for LGBT+ families to that of our heterosexual counterparts.

We passionately campaign for LGBT+ family equality & positive policy change. We do this through our ongoing recommendations, training & conversations with the Government, NHS, corporate & charitable organisations, to improve support for LGBT+ families across healthcare, law & society.

Through our educational arm, PROUD FOUNDATIONS, we provide education & training, consultancy services, speakers & project work to educate & enable organisations to better support our community by improving policies, guidelines & resources.

We work tirelessly to inspire people worldwide on their journey, whilst working to 'usualize' & celebrate our families in society, in turn creating a more inclusive future for our children.

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Support same sex families & LGBT women & people looking to start a family & providing a community space for lesbians, bisexuals, trans & non binary women & people

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Advice, information and peer support for those living full time with a child who has been removed from their parent.

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Find out about what kinship care is and what type of kinship carer you are.

We have lots of information on the most frequently asked questions.

We can advise anyone who is caring for a relative or friend's child full time, and anyone thinking about becoming a kinship carer.

Get support on becoming a kinship carer, applying for grants, legal options and much more.

There are many ways to connect with other kinship carers, both remotely and in person.

All the latest information, advice and guidance on COVID-19 for kinship carers.

Find help

Whether you're a family member or friend, taking on care of a child is always complicated, and it's likely that you'll need independent advice at some stage of the process.

The first thing to remember is that you're not alone. Our advice service is here for you if you want to email, call or connect with them on Facebook and they regularly update the website with vital information and advice.

Join our kinship community to hear stories, news and special offers from our partners as well as new services, support groups and other events. You can also get involved in helping us to campaign for recognition and a fairer deal for kinship carers.

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For kinship carers - Kinship - The kinship care charity

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Find out about what kinship care is and what type of kinship carer you are. We have lots of information on the most frequently asked questions. We can advise anyone who is caring for a relative or friend's child full time, and anyone thinking about becoming a kinship carer.

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A wellbeing tool

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© 2022. Tommy’s is a registered charity in England and Wales (1060508) and Scotland (SC039280). A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales company number 3266897. Registered office: Nicholas House, 3 Laurence Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0BB.

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Support for OCD * Please contact your health care professional for advice and guidance*

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A charitable organisation run by women who have had postnatal depression.

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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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This app is designed to provide mindfulness techniques and meditation. This can often help with some practical management of symptoms of anxiety.

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Sussex Mental Healthline: 0800 0309 500 – out of hours contact number or Call NHS 111 and select option 2

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24/7 mental health telephone support and information service

Call and select option 2 or dial 0800 0309 500

The Sussex Mental Healthline offers listening support, advice, information and signposting to anyone experiencing difficulties, or who may be in crisis and in urgent need of help, with their mental health.

The service is free and is available to anyone of any age who is concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend. This includes carers and healthcare professionals.

See below to find out more about this service or see our urgent help in a crisis page for additional support and information.

We welcome Text Relay calls and New Generation Text calls from hearing and speech impaired callers, on 0300 5000 101.

If you require support with physical health symptoms please call 111 and select option 1, and if your situation is a health emergency, please call 999.

What does Sussex Mental Healthline do?

Mental illness and distress can occur at any time and our service aims to support people when they need us. Through the Healthline we can provide advice, help and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Who will answer the telephone?

The Sussex Mental Healthline is staffed by a team of experienced operators. Although we are not a counselling service, all our operators will listen and help callers to identify and clarify their immediate problems and to explore ways of coping or suggest alternative avenues of help.

What sort of help do we offer?

Our operators can offer general advice regarding managing mental health issues and suggest tools and coping strategies.

We can give information about available mental health services, how to access them and details about a wide range of support and voluntary organisations, both local and national.

Will my call be confidential?

Calls will remain confidential within the services provided by Sussex Partnership. Electronic records are kept of all calls and calls are audio recorded.

In circumstances where a caller is expressing an immediate intent to commit a serious criminal act, endanger themselves or others, or when a child or adult is at risk, the Sussex Mental Health line will inform emergency services and local authorities as appropriate.

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The Sussex Mental Healthline offers listening support, advice and information to anyone in crisis or who needs urgent help with their mental health

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0800 023 6475 - a support service for people experiencing distress due to their mental health.

Staying Well Space Link
Telephone (Freephone): 0800 023 6475, choose option #1 for Eastbourne
Telephone (Freephone): 0800 023 6475, choose option #2 for Hastings (St Leonards-on-sea)

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Staying Well services in Sussex offer support to people who are at risk of going into crisis. You can contact and refer yourself directly to a Staying Well Service in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, and access the service alongside any care you might be receiving.
Staying Well in Brighton & Hove

Walk-in crisis support service:

Address:
The Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park, 18 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6HL

Opening hours:
Weekdays - 5pm to 10.30pm
Weekends - 3pm to 10.30pm

For a full list of mental health services in Brighton & Hove, visit UOK Brighton & Hove

Staying Well - Crawley

For mental health crisis prevention support:

Opening Hours:
Weekdays - 5pm to 11.00pm
Weekends - 3pm to 11.00pm

For a full list of mental health support services in West Sussex please visit Pathfinder website.

Staying Well in Eastbourne

For mental health crisis prevention support:

Opening hours:
Weekdays - 4pm to 10.30pm
Weekends - 3pm to 10.30pm

Staying Well in Hastings (St Leonards-on-Sea)

For mental health crisis prevention support:

Opening hours:
Weekdays - 4pm to 10.30pm
Weekends - 3pm to 10.30pm

For a full list of mental health services in East Sussex please visit East Sussex County Council's website.

Staying Well - Worthing

For mental health crisis prevention support:

Opening Hours:
Weekdays - 5pm to 10.30pm
Weekends - 12pm to 10.30pm

For a full list of mental health support services in West Sussex please visit Pathfinder website.

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Staying Well services in Sussex offer support to people who are at risk of going into crisis. You can contact and refer yourself directly to a Staying Well Service in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, and access the service alongside any care you might be receiving.

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SANEline: 07984 967 708 – you can call or send a text message.

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SANEline is a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. We are normally open every day of the year from 4pm to 10pm on 0300 304 7000.
Our helpline is here to support you - particularly if you feel you have reached a moment of crisis. We know that moment of crisis is different for everybody - some people can reach that point daily, and for some people it is a rare occurrence.

Our trained helpline volunteers aim to be empathic and non-judgemental, providing space and time for you to talk about your mental health, or the mental health of someone close to you. For information on confidentiality, please visit our Confidentiality page.

Would you like us to call you?

SANE will retain the callback service we opened during the pandemic, so you can still leave us a message on 07984 967 708 giving us your first name and phone number, and we will call you back within a few days.

Anybody is welcome to call us if they need to talk, or want support. The helpline is a confidential service for anyone aged 16 or over.

If you're under 16, there are specialist services for people your age which would be better suited to talk with you - you're welcome to email us to get more information at support@sane.org.uk

"It was SANEline that got me through the most frightening time of my life."
SANEline caller
Getting through to SANEline
Our lines can be busy, but our lines are open every night. If you keep trying, you are likely to get through. It may be easier to get through between 4-4.30pm and 8-9pm. It may also be easier to get through on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Call charges

SANE does not charge for its services but your phone provider may charge you. We have an 0300 number and this means helpline calls are inclusive in allowances on landlines and on mobiles on the same basis as calls to geographic (01 and 02) numbers, or are otherwise charged at a rate that does not exceed the rate for calling an 01 or 02 number. The call charges are set by, and retained by, the caller's phone provider.

Ages for SANE services

We are sorry but you are not able to use our services if you are under 16. We understand that you are looking for emotional support, please contact Childline on 0800 1111, it supports anyone up to 19 years old, or visit The Mix which supports young people up to the age of 25.
Message for 16 to 17-year-olds
It is really important to us that our services are a confidential support to you. However, as you are under 18 the law says we may sometimes have to share information if you tell us something which makes us think you are unsafe. If we are going to share information you have told us with people who can keep you safe, we will always try to contact you beforehand.
Message for all over 18
All of our services are confidential. We will only break this confidentiality if we are concerned about serious risk of harm to others. This includes the risk of harm to a young person under the age of 18 or to an adult who is vulnerable. If appropriate, we will always try and contact you beforehand.

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SANEline is a national out-of-hours helpline offering emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness.

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CALL: 116 123 FOR FREE
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN CRISIS to have someone to listen.

Eastbourne Branch Link

Hastings and Rother Branch Link

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

Call: 0800 068 4141

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Skip to content

Watch the full video

Thinking of suicide?

Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247.

My whole way of thinking has changed. I feel positive about my future and the people around me. I'm now looking forward to the future and helping others just like me!

Thank you so much for the incredible support PAPYRUS and HOPELINE247 has given me. You helped me in that moment and it kept me alive.

I intend to continue to fundraise for and promote PAPYRUS. I am so proud and humbled to be involved with a wonderful charity, and to have received the support that I have.

Having been personally bereaved by suicide I understand the importance and need for our charity. I am surrounded by others who are as passionate as I am about saving lives.

* All feedback is provided by people who contact PAPYRUS. All feedback has full consent of the user and the user remains fully anonymous. Some feedback may have been adapted to keep the users anonymity.

Our latest news

Stay up to date with PAPYRUS; our news section is regularly updated with helpful advice and guidance, as well as information about our upcoming events and campaigns. If you have any questions or queries please get in touch.

Our upcoming events

Please see below some of our upcoming and exciting events including fundraisers and charity events we will be attending. For more information please get in touch.

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Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention | Prevention of Young Suicide

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PAPYRUS UK is a charity for the prevention of young suicide (under 35) in the UK | Call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 Now

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Support around traumatic births
Please contact them at: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or phone them on 0203 621 6338.

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The Birth Trauma Association

Welcome to the Birth Trauma Association (BTA). We're a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma - a shorthand term for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth.

About 30,000 women a year, according to the most recent research, experience birth trauma in the UK. Instead of being joyful and happy, the experience of giving birth has been frightening. Perhaps the baby's heartrate dipped, leading to an emergency caesarean section. Maybe you or your baby suffered injuries as the result of the birth. Or maybe you felt that you weren't well looked after in labour, or you weren't told what to expect.

If something like this has happened to you, you might have felt scared that you or the baby were going to die. As with any other traumatic experience - a car accident, or a sexual assault, or seeing a bomb explode - a traumatic birth can lead to symptoms of PTSD: flashbacks, a sense of heightened anxiety, constantly feeling on the alert, avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma.

Birth trauma means that it can be difficult to bond with your baby. You may find your symptoms are triggered by reminders of the birth: pregnant women, other babies, programmes such as One Born Every Minute.

Witnessing someone else's trauma can also be traumatic, so partners can experience PTSD too.

We're here to help people like you - if you want to know more about how we can help, please select the Parents menu.

If you're a health professional and want to find out more about birth trauma, select the Health Professionals menu.

In the video below, five women talk about their experience of birth trauma and how they found help.

Keep up to date with The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) on social media

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The Birth Trauma Association Welcome to the Birth Trauma Association (BTA). We're a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma - a shorthand term for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. About 30,000 women a year, according to the most recent research, experience birth trauma in the UK.

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Support for parents and families with babies born premature or sick

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For babies born premature or sick | Bliss

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Our vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

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Perinatal and Postnatal Mental Health Support

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Advice and information about mental illness

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Looking for advice about mental illness? We can help.

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The Rethink Mental Illness advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. We also offer general information on living with mental illness, medication and care.

How to contact us
Note: on Tuesday 9 January 2024 our service will be open 9.30am - 12.30pm. How to contact us:

Our advice and information helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4pm, excluding bank holidays . The phone number is 0808 801 0525.

Our webchat service is open from 10.00am - 1pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Look out for the webchat icon in bottom, right-hand corner of the screen.

You can email us at advice@rethink.org. We aim to respond within 5 working days.

You can write to us at Rethink, PO BOX 18252 Solihull B91 9BA. We aim to post our reply within 5 working days of receipt of your letter.

The things we give advice and information on include:

Mental health system

Access to mental health care

Social care

Mental health treatments

Carers rights

Mental health conditions

Complaints and advocacy

Medical records and confidentiality

The Mental Health Act

The Mental Capacity Act

Mental illness and the Equality Act

Mental health and employment

Mental Health care in prison

Mental health and welfare benefits

Write to us

You can write to us at Rethink, PO BOX 18252 Solihull B91 9BA. We aim to post our reply within 3 working days of receipt of your letter. Please remember to include your return address. It helps us to advise you if you include your date of birth, or the date of birth of the person you want advice about.

Looking for information about money, debt or benefits?

Why not visit our Mental Health & Money Advice Service?

Mental Health Crisis
Breathing Space

If you would like to speak to a member of staff regarding Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space, please call 0808 801 0745.

Are you trying to find a local service?

If you would like to learn more about what is in your area then Hub of Hope of a national database of mental health services that you can search by using your postcode.
Visit the Hub of Hope site now

Are you currently in a crisis or know someone who is? Please check our crisis support pages to find out which organisations can provide the most appropriate support depending on your circumstances.

Don't know where to start

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Looking for advice about mental illness? We can help.

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We can offer practical support on a wide range of mental health advice topics such as diagnosis, treatment, welfare benefits and carers rights. You can contact us via email, telephone or webmail. When it comes to getting the right information, you can turn to us.

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Support and guidance on Parents Mental Health

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It's okay to reach out for help. Your situation is unique and no parent has all the answers. We all need a little extra support sometimes, and we hear from parents and carers just like you all the time.

So, if you're worried about the mental health and wellbeing of a child or young person up to the age of 25, you can chat to us by phone, email or webchat.

Our Parents Helpline is also accessible for those who are hard of hearing or speak English as an additional language. If English is not your first or preferred language, we can arrange for a language translator to support you on a call with one of our helpline advisers. Or if you would like to use our webchat or email service, we offer a digital translation service.

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Parents Mental Health Support | Advice for Your Child

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Practical tips, advice and where you can get help if your child or teenager is struggling with their mood, feelings, or their behaviour seems different.

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** Please contact your health care professional for any symptoms/ feelings you may be experiencing postpartum**

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Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental health illness that can affect someone soon after having a baby. It affects around 1 in 1,000 mothers after giving birth.

Many people who have given birth will experience mild mood changes after having a baby, known as the "baby blues". This is normal and usually only lasts for a few days.

But postpartum psychosis is very different from the "baby blues". It's a serious mental illness and should be treated as a medical emergency.

It's sometimes called puerperal psychosis or postnatal psychosis.

Symptoms of postpartum psychosis

Symptoms usually start suddenly within the first 2 weeks after giving birth - often within hours or days of giving birth. More rarely, they can develop several weeks after the baby is born.

Symptoms can include:

hallucinations - hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling things that are not there

delusions - suspicions, fears, thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true

mania - feeling very "high" or overactive, for example, talking and thinking too much or too quickly, restlessness or losing normal inhibitions

a low mood - showing signs of depression, being withdrawn or tearful, lacking energy, having a loss of appetite, anxiety, agitation or trouble sleeping

sometimes a mixture of both a manic mood and a low mood - or rapidly changing moods

feeling very confused

When to get medical help

Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental illness that should be treated as a medical emergency. It can get worse rapidly and the illness can risk the safety of the mother and baby.

See a GP immediately if you think you, or someone you know, may have developed symptoms of postpartum psychosis. You should request an urgent assessment on the same day.

You can call 111 if you cannot speak to a GP or do not know what to do next. Your midwife or health visitor may also be able to help you access care.

Call your crisis team if you already have a care plan because you've been assessed as being at high risk of developing postpartum psychosis.

Go to A&E or call 999 if you think you, or someone you know, may be in danger of imminent harm.

Be aware that if you have postpartum psychosis, you may not realise you're ill. Your partner, family or friends may spot the signs and have to take action.

Treating postpartum psychosis

Treatment usually happens in hospital. Ideally, this would be with your baby in a specialist psychiatric unit called a mother and baby unit (MBU). But you may be admitted to a general psychiatric ward until an MBU is available.

Most people with postpartum psychosis make a full recovery as long as they receive the right treatment.

Medicine

You may be prescribed 1 or more of the following:

antipsychotics - to help with manic and psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations

mood stabilisers (for example, lithium) - to stabilise your mood and prevent symptoms recurring

antidepressants - to help ease symptoms if you have significant symptoms of depression and may be used alongside a mood stabiliser

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is sometimes recommended if all other treatment options have failed, or when the situation is thought to be life threatening.

Psychological therapy

As you move forward with your recovery, you may benefit from seeing a therapist for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.

Other forms of support

It can be hard to come to terms with the experience of postpartum psychosis as you recover.

Talking to peers and others with lived experience of the illness may be helpful. Some inpatient units and communities have peer support workers who have experienced the illness, and you can also access support through charities.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis offers online chat or in-person meetings to support those affected by postpartum psychosis.

Causes

It's not clear what causes postpartum psychosis, but you're more at risk if you:

already have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia

have a family history of mental illness, particularly postpartum psychosis (even if you have no history of mental illness)

developed postpartum psychosis after a previous pregnancy

Reducing the risk of postpartum psychosis

If you're at high risk of developing postpartum psychosis, you should have specialist care during or before pregnancy and be seen by a perinatal psychiatrist.

You should have a pre-birth planning meeting at around 32 weeks of pregnancy with everyone involved in your care. This includes your partner, family or friends, mental health professionals, your midwife, obstetrician, health visitor and GP.

This is to make sure that everyone is aware of your risk of postpartum psychosis. You should all agree on a plan for your care during pregnancy and after you've given birth.

You'll get a written copy of your care plan explaining how you and your family can get help quickly if you become ill, as well as strategies you can use to reduce your risk of becoming ill.

In the first few weeks after your baby is born, you should have regular home visits from a midwife, health visitor and mental health nurse.

Recovering from postpartum psychosis

The most severe symptoms tend to last 2 to 12 weeks, and it can take 6 to 12 months or more to recover completely from the condition. But with treatment and the right support, most people with postpartum psychosis do make a full recovery.

An episode of postpartum psychosis is sometimes followed by a period of depression, anxiety and low confidence. It might take a while for you to come to terms with what happened.

Some mothers have difficulty bonding with their baby after an episode of postpartum psychosis, or feel some sadness at missing out on time with their baby. With support from your partner, family, friends and your mental health team, or talking to others with lived experience, you can overcome these feelings.

Many people who've had postpartum psychosis go on to have more children. Although there is about a 1 in 2 chance you will have another episode after a future pregnancy, you should be able to get help quickly with the right care and the risks can be reduced with appropriate interventions.

Support for postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis can have a big impact on your life, but support is available.

It might help to speak to others who've had the same condition, or connect with a charity.

You may find the following links useful:

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) have produced a series of guides with the help of women who have experienced postpartum psychosis.

These guides cover topics such as:

recovering from postpartum psychosis

supporting partners

planning pregnancy

parenting after postpartum psychosis

pregnancy for women with bipolar disorder

There is also an APP forum, where you can connect with others affected by postpartum psychosis.

Other useful links

Supporting people with their recovery

People with postpartum psychosis will need support to help them with their recovery.

You can help your partner, relative or friend by:

being calm and supportive

taking time to listen

helping with housework and cooking

helping with childcare and night-time feeds

letting them get as much sleep as possible

helping with shopping and household chores

keeping the home as calm and quiet as possible

not having too many visitors

Support for partners, relatives and friends

Postpartum psychosis can be distressing for partners, relatives and friends, too.

If your partner, relative or friend is going through an episode of postpartum psychosis or recovering, do not be afraid to get help yourself.

Talk to a mental health professional or get help from Action on Postpartum Psychosis for dads and co-parents or grandparents.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has information and advice for partners, family and friends.

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Information on postpartum psychosis (psychosis after childbirth), with links to other useful resources.

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PIM Peer support for mums and birthing parents and referral link: (SEE BELOW)

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PIM Peer support for mums and birthing parents and referral link: (SEE BELOW)

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Referral Pathway:

You can self refer OR via your health care professional by clicking on the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/MVKyZp1Mpd

You can also email us at: parentsinmind.es@nct.org.uk

NCT Parents in Mind offers FREE perinatal mental health peer support to pregnant women and parents/ partners of babies up until the age of 2.

Peer support for women & birthing people runs term time only. With exception for x2 'picnic in the parks' during summer school holidays.

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PIM Peer support for DADS & referral link: (SEE BELOW)

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PIM Peer support for DADS & referral link: (SEE BELOW)

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*Free Peer support for dads and partners is accessible as of 1st July 2023.

Referral Pathway:

You can self refer OR via your health care professional by clicking on the links below:

For dads: https://forms.office.com/e/MVKyZp1Mpd

You can also email us at: parentsinmind.es@nct.org.uk

NCT Parents in Mind offers FREE perinatal mental health peer support for becoming dads/ dads and non birthing partners with babies 2 and under. Peer support for dads and non birthing partners runs throughout the year. (including outside of term time)

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Parents in Mind East Sussex Referral Form

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Parents in Mind East Sussex Referral Form

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However you're feeling right now, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you with your mental health.

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Resources for you

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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Sam is one of our wonderful volunteers and has completed our accredited training in peer support. She will be at Eastbourne on a Friday to welcome and support you.

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Vicky is one of our lovely volunteers who has completed our accredited training in peer support and is ready to welcome and support you at Eastbourne on a Friday.

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Amy is one of our wonderful volunteers. She has completed our accredited training in peer support and is ready to welcome and support you at Eastbourne on a Friday.

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Offer support with a crying baby. The website also offers some good resources.

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Who we are

In 1981 a small group of parents, who were experiencing problems with their crying and sleepless babies, set up a support group. They discovered how important support is and how reassuring it can be to talk to someone. Today that support group has become Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. From modest beginnings Cry-sis has become a well-respected national charity which:

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Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis

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Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. Call the helpline now...