If you have recently had a baby and your mental health has been affected, you are not alone. Below you will find the full range of services in South Gloucester that can offer help and support. Please contact organisations directly for the latest service delivery information during COVID 19.
If you would like your organisation to be listed here please complete and send the form in the 'Contact Us' section of this website.
NHS
GPs
If you feel that your mental health, or that of your partner, is deteriorating during the postnatal period, please seek advice from your local GP. It is very common for parents to feel low or anxious during this time and there is no need to suffer in silence. GPs can help you identify what help you need and support you at difficult times.
Service delivery plan during COVID 19:
GP surgeries are open as normal, but do expect to receive a phone call initially from the doctor.
Health Visitors
The South Gloucestershire health visiting service offers support for all parents ofall children (from pregnancy to age 5), whatever their circumstances. The service is made up of health visitors and community nursery nurses who work in the community with children and families from the antenatal period until they go to school. Health Visitors work alongside families offering help and information around early parenting and parenthood. Community nursery nurses support parents to understand their child’s behaviour, build a loving relationship with their child, and enjoy their parenting journey.
The team have had to modify the service in response to Covid 19, however there is still lots of support, information and guidance available. Parents are encouraged to contact the service directly on weekdays, 9am – 4pm, on any of the following numbers:
Cadbury Heath/Kingswood Team: 0300 124 5498
Yate/Emerson's Green Team: 0300 124 5862
Thornbury/Patchway/Filton Team: 0300 125 5970
Specialist Community Perinatal Service - Avon & Wiltshire Partnership Mental Health Trust
Outline of service: Pregnancy can be difficult for both new mums and
partners and cause mood changes and anxiety symptoms. This often gets
better with the help of friends, family, GPs and other healthcare
professionals. A perinatal team is involved when more specialist
support is needed.
The AWP team is made up of a range of professionals
including mental health nurses, parent-infant therapists, nursery nurses
and specialist psychiatrists. The service offers assessment and
treatment, and works with mums in community settings. It supports women
with longstanding, severe mental illness during pregnancy and following
birth (bipolar, psychosis, previous post-partum psychosis, eating
disorders, OCD and severe anxiety). Support is also available to mums
who have previously attended a mother and baby unit, and women
experiencing mental illness for the first time in pregnancy/as a new
parent.
The service covering Bristol, South Gloucestershire
and North Somerset works in conjunction with specialist perinatal staff
at the maternity hospitals.
Who can access this service:
• Women with previous mental health difficulties who want to plan their pregnancy.
• Women with a significant family history of certain mental health illnesses such as bipolar or psychosis.
• Women being cared for by secondary mental health services (the perinatal team usually works alongside them).
• Professionals supporting mum during pregnancy or following birth may feel extra mental health support/assessment is needed.
Referrals are typically between 12 week’s gestation
and 9 months postnatally (but the service will accept from pre-pregnancy
to 12 months postnatally), and triaged on an individual need basis.
How to refer: If you are concerned about your
mental health, please contact your GP/midwife/health visitor. If you are
supported by secondary mental health services your current team can
discuss with you.
Who can refer: Professional referral only.
Primary Infant Mental Health Specialists (PIMHS)
Outline of service: The Infant Mental Health
Service (PIMHS) within CAMHS focuses on the emotional wellbeing of
babies, and pre-school children and their carers. When there has been a
lot of family stresses or health worries, some babies and young children
may need extra helpto express themselves. They often show us how they
feel through their behaviours. PIMHS work with families to explore
family interaction patterns and to understand their young child’s
perspective.
Who can access this service: Carers and their young children living in South Gloucestershire.
How to refer: Professional referral only. Please contact health care professional/support worker and they will refer you if appropriate.
VitaMinds
Outline of service: Vitaminds support clients
experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder,
excessive worry or low mood. This service provides a range of evidence-based talking therapies as well as advice and guidance on community
services that can support you in your local area.
Who can access this service: Suitable for over 16 year olds living in the Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire.
How to refer: Professional and Self referrals accepted. Referrals can be made via the telephone or via the online referral form which can be found on our website.
Barnardo’s Breastfeeding
Outline of service: Barnardo’s co-ordinates the
South Gloucestershire breastfeeding support service. Support is
offered to women in regular local groups and via a weekly clinic.
Who can access this service: Any breastfeeding mum in South Gloucestershire.
How to refer: See the website for all current group and clinic information.
One You South Gloucestershire
Outline of service: One You South
Gloucestershire is a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing service for adults
to help make important, lasting improvements to their health.
Who can access this service: All adults over
the age of 18 who are a South Gloucestershire resident or registered
with a GP practice in South Gloucestershire.
How to refer: Self-referral via the website or by phone.
The NILAARI agency
Outline of service: Nilaari is a mental health
service which focuses on Black, Asian and Minority Communities (BAME).
It is a unique, independent organisation covering Bristol and South
Gloucestershire.
Who can access the service: Nilaari offers a service to anyone who is resident in Bristol and South Gloucestershire over the age of 18 yrs.
How to refer: Self referral.
Home-Start Bristol
Outline of service: Home-Start Bristol offers a lifeline to
families with young children who are going through difficult times and
require support and practical help.
Who can access this service: Any family with at least one child under the age of 5 years.
How to refer: Professional referral and self-referral. All details and referral forms can be found on the website.
Bluebell Care
Outline of service: Bluebell offers support to
pregnant and new mums who are experiencing depression and anxiety. Mums
can access 1:1 support from a peer support buddy, group support programs
and the opportunity to come along to targeted drop-in sessions at their
central Bristol Hub.
Who can access the service: Pregnant mums and mums with little ones up to the age of 2 years old.
How to refer: Professional and self-referrals accepted. Visit website to download referral form.
Dads in Mind
Outline of service: Dads In Mind supports Dads
who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health surrounding
pregnancy and birth of a child, or are supporting a partner who is
having difficulties. Dads can access 1:1, and group peer support.
Who can access the service: Any dad who needs psychological support around his partner’s pregnancy, birth and up to 2 years postnatally.
How to refer: Professional and self-referrals accepted. Visit website to download referral form.
Well Aware
Outline of service: Well Aware hold information
about organisations, support groups, community groups, events and
activities across Bristol and South Gloucestershire that can help
improve health and wellbeing.
Who can access the service: Open to all.
How to refer: See the website for all information or contact an adviser via phone/email/post.
Rockabye
Outline of service: Rockabye run groups to
support and nourish your relationship with baby through sharing
experiences with other parents, singing and sensory play. The
organisation runs both Ante-natal groups (6 weeks long) and Post-natal
groups (10-12 weeks).
Who can access the service: Parents during pregnancy and with pre-crawling babies living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
How to refer: Professional and self-referrals accepted.
Mothers for Mothers
Outline of service: Mothers for Mothers run
weekly peer support groups for women and pre-school children; a
counselling and art psychotherapy service; a helpline and pre-arranged
weekly support calls and home visits for women who are too unwell to
access services and activities outside of their home.
Who can access the service: Services are open to pregnant women and families with pre-school-aged children.
How to refer: Professional and self referral taken via the helpline number or email.
Bristol Mind
Outline of service: Bristol Mind is a mental
health resource for people in the Bristol area. Some of their services
are open to South Gloucestershire. These include LGBTQ+ counselling,
national helplines MindLine Trans+ and MindLine, and the local
information and signposting phone service.
Who can access the service: Suitable for adults over the age of 18 yrs.
How to refer: Services detailed above are available for self-referral.
Baby Bank Network
Outline of service: Provides free pre-loved baby items to families in need.
Who can access the service: Any family living in poverty, with children under the age of 5 years old.
How to refer: Any professional, support worker or charity working with family can refer via website.