Understanding Perinatal Mental Health: Essential Resources
Perinatal mental health, encompassing the emotional and psychological wellbeing of parents from conception through the first year of a child’s life, is a critical aspect of overall family health. Conditions such as antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety, postpartum psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can profoundly impact new and expecting parents. Early recognition and treatment are crucial for the wellbeing of both parents and children.
To support the mental health of expecting and new parents, the Baby Plus You campaign has launched in collaboration with Central and North West London Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
Understanding the signs and symptoms of Perinatal Mental Health conditions is the first step towards seeking help. These may include feeling constantly down or emotionally detached from your baby, as well as experiencing excessive worry about parenthood. You might also notice changes like difficulty sleeping, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, or feeling irritable without reason. Seeking help is important if you find yourself struggling with these feelings and is the key to making a significant difference in your wellbeing.
Self-Referral to Brent and Harrow Perinatal Mental Health Team Now Available
Starting Monday, 2 September 2024, individuals can self-refer online to the Brent and Harrow Perinatal Mental Health Team. This new option empowers you to easily access the support you need during pregnancy or early parenthood.
If you’re a resident of Brent or Harrow, over 18, and either pregnant or have a baby under 24 months, you can complete the online referral form without needing a professional referral here.
Key Resources for Perinatal Mental Health
Below are some essential resources to help you recognise the signs, understand the symptoms, and seek the necessary support:
Understanding Perinatal Mental Health
Healthline: Perinatal Depression
Maternal Mental Health Alliance
PANDAS Foundation – Perinatal Mental Health Explained
Mental health and pregnancy – Start for Life – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Your Mental Health – Start for Life – NHS
For Brent Residents
Start for Life | Brent Council
For Harrow Residents
Harrow Talking Therapies Perinatal Leaflet
Central and North West London
CNWL Perinatal Mental Health Services
Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service, North West London
Multilingual
Brent and Harrow Perinatal Community Mental Health Team
- Perinatal Mental Health films can be found in the following languages: Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Slovak, Mirpuri, and Dari.
Tommy’s – The Pregnancy and Baby Charity
Resources for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage birthing people
Video Resource: Barriers to Truth in Perinatal Mental Health
To the right, you can watch a powerful video shared at the Perinatal Launch events in Brent and Harrow. It was created as part of the MBRRACE conference early this year in response to a survey “Why I wouldn’t tell you the truth about my mental health”.
Acknowledgement: This video was created for the NWL Perinatal MBRRACE Conference 2024. Our Peer Support Workers and Experts by Experience share the written accounts of over 30 families in our community who shared their barriers to speaking the truth about their mental health to services, answering our question via an online anonymous survey “Why I wouldn’t tell you the truth about my mental health”. This is shared with thanks and permission to all the voices who made it possible. Please do listen with care, as some of this may feel triggering professionally and/or personally.
We hope that this supports continued learning and co-production of services and interventions.
For any queries, please contact cnwl.perinatalvoices@nhs.net.
Taking the First Step
Recognising that taking the first step to seek help can be daunting, the Baby Plus You Campaign aims to make this process easier. Our team are ready to provide personalised support throughout the referral process.
Your mental health is important. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you are experiencing any symptoms of Perinatal Mental Health conditions. With the right support and resources, you can navigate this challenging time and ensure the wellbeing of yourself and your family.
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