Further Support & Specialist Support Services

During the period from pregnancy until the first year after giving birth, known as the perinatal period, 1 in 4 mothers or birthing individuals experience mental health illness. It is crucial to seek help as symptoms can worsen over time. Being a parent can be stressful and exhausting, and having a baby can trigger mental health illness. Fortunately, with support, it is possible to make a complete recovery.

How to get support

Health visitors

Health visitors have been trained to recognise perinatal mental health problems and have techniques that can help.

Your Health Visiting Service Every Mind Matters

Hampshire perinatal and infant mental health service

The Perinatal Mental Health service supports mothers experiencing a severe mental illness through a programme of treatment and support in the community and in their specialist inpatient unit.

Community-based care includes:

• advice and support over the telephone
• outpatient consultations in clinics, GP surgeries or at home
• support and guidance for an individual’s family
• medication
• a range of therapy sessions

southernhealth .nhs.uk 02382 313000

Melbury Lodge:

Their inpatient service is available to women who have severe mental illness from 24 weeks of pregnancy until a child is one-year-old. The unit, based at Melbury Lodge in Winchester, has been designed especially for mothers and babies, to make it a safe, welcoming, and relaxing environment.

Experiencing mental health problems when your partner is pregnant or has given birth in the past year is common, as becoming a parent can bring about changes. Mental health illness affects 1 in 10 men during the perinatal period, this rises to ¼ to ½ if your partner is suffering mental health illness.. Fathers and co-parents often experience perinatal anxiety and depression, and existing mental health conditions may worsen during this period. Becoming a parent can lead to significant hormonal, environmental, psychological, and situational changes that can greatly impact your overall experience. Therefore, taking steps to prioritise your mental health is essential during this vulnerable time.

Perinatal mental health symptoms can include:   

Physical symptoms:  

• Being easily frustrated / angry
• Poor concentration / motivation
• Loss of libido
• Tearful
• Poor / disturbed sleep and lack of energy (Over and above what normally happens with a new baby)
• Headaches, High blood pressure, unexplained aches, and pains
• Changes in appetite or weight

Psychological Symptoms:

• Feeling helpless and fearful
• Thoughts of death or dying (Including suicidal thoughts)
• Feeling worried
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and self blame
• Intrusive thoughts
• Persistent sadness
• Constant Low mood
• Heightened anxiety

Behavioural Symptoms:

• Relationship difficulties (including personal, work and friends)
• Neglecting your own interests.
• Withdrawing from family life, work, and being social
• Avoidance. Overworking. Misusing drugs and alcohol
• Increased consumption of alcohol/cigarettes problems bonding with your baby, no sense of enjoyment in being with them

Sometimes it can be challenging to recognise when your emotional wellbeing is declining, and the signs may not be apparent to you. Your loved ones may be the first to notice these symptoms. If you or those around you are noticing these symptoms, it is crucial to prioritise taking care of yourself. No matter how mental health is labelled, you deserve support. Seeking the help, you need will benefit both you and your family.

Services that can support you:
Your GP
Online Support Groups Your Health VisitorDadPad National Childbirth Trust The Fatherhood Institute PND Awareness and Support Home Start Gingerbread (support for single parents)  Dad Matters UK

• prescribing and managing medication
• psychological (talking) therapies
• occupational therapy
• specialist support for psychosis
• assertive outreach for people who struggle to keep in contact with their mental health services

They also provide advice to families and carers to help them support loved ones. Follow the link for more details

southernhealth .nhs.uk

Learn simple and effective ways to look after your everyday wellbeing and stay well.

Italk offers evidence-based treatments for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and phobias, but you don't need a diagnosis to self-refer. Self-referral is via the website. Open Monday - Thursday 8am - 6pm and Friday 8am - 4.30pm

italk.org.uk 023 8038 3920 info@italk.org.uk Hart and Rushmoor

HS offers free apps, self-help CBT techniques, and support for people with mental health issues. Learn how to get active, cope with life's challenges and cope with life's challenges.

Solent Mind, a registered charity providing a wide range of high-quality services to support people with mental health problems across the Southern Region.

They are open Monday-Friday 9 am - 4 pm

solentmind.org.uk 023 8202 7810 info@ solentmind.org.uk

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a UK-wide charity and network of  over 125 organisations , dedicated to ensuring all women and families impacted by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care and support. We bring the maternal mental health community together and make change happen by combining the power of  real-life experience  with clinical and professional expertise.

About Maternal Mental Health

CAMHS work together as a team to help young people and their families. Every clinician (someone who sees and treats patients) who works at CAMHS can provide high quality assessments and treatments (called ‘interventions’).

Sometimes young people benefit from seeing several different clinicians or clinicians with specialist skills and training. You or your family may have a preference about who you see and what type of help and support you would like to access. Interventions (treatments) are offered based on what difficulties you are experiencing, what goals you would like to achieve and what the evidence tells us will be most helpful in overcoming your difficulties.

If you would to like discuss whether to make a referral then you may call one of their teams between 9 am and 2 pm.

03003040050
SPNT.HantsCamhsSpa@nhs.net
https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/

All children are different and develop at different speeds. Some children find learning certain skills more difficult than others and they may need specialist assessment and advice from one of our therapists.

Solent NHS Trust Children’s Therapy Service team works closely together to support children and young people who need specialist help from one or more of our therapy services. These include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy.

Open Mon-Friday 8am -6pm

SNHS.Solentchildrenstherapyservice@nhs.net
tel:03003002019