Transformation Partners in Health and Care > Our partnerships work > Mental Health Transformation programme for London > Perinatal mental health in London > Perinatal mental health peer support in London

Perinatal mental health peer support in London

 

 

Perinatal peer support is an active intervention where people use their own experiences to work directly with women/birthing people and their families. Perinatal peer supporters or peer support workers have experienced some form of perinatal mental ill-health and recovery which they draw upon to offer a safe space, a listening ear and support to others going through similar experiences. Accessing peer support during the perinatal period has been shown to have a positive impact on women’s overall health and wellbeing.

There are several peer support options in London provided by both the third sector and the NHS. NHS services such as Community Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Services provide this support to women with moderate to severe mental ill-health. Women and birthing people can access mental health and emotional wellbeing support flexibly through the third sector.

To help support women and professionals to understand and access peer support, TPHC and London’s third sector organisation have developed a directory of organisations that offer perinatal peer support across London.

Third sector organisations working with specific groups

Certain organisations from those already listed above provide support to women with special circumstances:

  • Support in multiple languages – Manor gardens (NCL), Parents in Mind (NEL), Newham Nurture Programme (NEL), Maternity mates (NEL), The Ectopic pregnancy trust (Citywide)
  • Support for women from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds – The motherhood group (SEL), Prosperity’s birth companion (SEL)
  • Support for women in prison – Birth companion (Citywide)
  • Support for women living with HIV – 4M Network (Citywide)
  • Young mothers – YoungMumsAid (SEL)
  • Women in high deprivation – Newham Nurture Programme (NEL)

Listening to experiences and voices

To ensure women and birthing people on the maternity pathway have their voice heard, a team of women and their families, commissioners and providers work together through Maternity Voice Partnerships (MVP) to review and inform the development of local maternity care. To contribute to developing your local maternity care services, click here to find your local MVP and their contact details.

Support across London

Below you’ll find a list of services available across London.

Perinatal support in North West London 

NCT – Birth and Beyond Community Support (BBCS)

  • Coverage: Hounslow Borough – Feltham, Bedfont, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford and Chiswick
  • Telephone: 0300 330 0700

Sands – West London

Miscarriage Association  – West London

Home-Start Ealing

  • Coverage: Ealing
  • Telephone: 020 8842 1617

Home Start Westminster

  • Coverage: Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham
  • Telephone: 020 7724 1345
  • Email: admin@hswestminster.co.uk

Home-Start Hillingdon

  • Coverage: Uxbridge, Hillingdon, West Drayton, Hayes, Ruislip and the surrounding area
  • Telephone: 01895 252 804

Perinatal support in North Central London

Manor gardens – Camden blossoms

Home-Start Camden & Islington

  • Coverage: Camden and Islington
  • Telephone: 07960 521 636

Home-Start Barnet

  • Coverage: Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow
  • Telephone: 020 8371 0674

Perinatal support in North East London

Sands – North and East London 

Women’s Health & Family Services – Maternity Mates

NCT – Parents in Mind

Mind – Mums matter

Home-Start Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest

  • Coverage: Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest
  • Telephone: 020 8352 4152
  • Email: info@hshhandwf.org

Home-Start Havering

Newham Nurture Programme

Perinatal support in South East London

YoungMumsAid

  • Coverage: Greenwich and some surrounding areas
  • Telephone: 07502 580928
  • Email: young@mums-aid.org

Mind – Mindful Mums 

  • Coverage: Bromley (befriending). Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich (Wellbeing groups)
  • Telephone: 07885 975129
  • Email: mindfulmums@blgmind.org.uk

Mind – Being Dad

  • Coverage: Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich (other SE London areas accepted)
  • Telephone: 07704 536424
  • Email: beingdad@blgmind.org.uk

Sands – Southeast London

  • Coverage: South East London and surrounding areas (no geographical boundaries on online support group meetings)
  • Telephone: 0808 164 3332

Miscarriage Association – SE

Healthwatch Southwark – Prosperity’s Birth Companion

Homestart Southwark

Home-Start Greenwich

Home-Start Bromley

Home-Start Lambeth

The Motherhood Group

Perinatal support in South West London

Kingston Welcare

Pandas – SW London

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

Home-Start Croydon

Home-Start Sutton

Home-Start Merton

Home-Start Wandsworth

🏠 Perinatal mental health

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