Home Start Bristol, which offers practical help and advice to families in Bristol, will be running its Mums In Mind group at locations across the city in the new year.
The Mums In Mind group are designed to provide perinatal mental health groups for women with children under two years. It is a peer support group for women who are feeling anxious, isolated and who are struggling in baby’s first years.
The groups run for ten weeks and are by referral only. There is no charge to participants.The groups have been developed in partnership with Children’s Centres across Bristol and have initially been funded through Home-Start UK.
Each session includes activities for parents and children, snacks and an opportunity to talk about feelings, common challenges and share ideas. Topics are selected in line with women’s needs but could include: feelings around becoming a parent; managing difficult feelings; relationship changes and challenges; looking after parent and child well-being; and practical parenting issues.
The groups are also an opportunity for women to form friendships and develop support networks. Their aim is to help women who are struggling at a preventative level before issues begin to escalate and reduce the need for higher level services.
The groups are facilitated by a Home-Start paid and experienced worker and supported by volunteers.
Comments from recent participants include, “It was great to talk about how everyone was feeling and realising you all feel the same,” and, “The best thing was meeting new mums and chatting without judgement”
Who can be referred to the groups?
The groups are focussed on women who are experiencing mild to moderate perinatal mental health issues and who have children under the age of two. Families can be referred through the Home-Start referral form. Please select the option ‘Mums in Mind’ on the first page https://homestartbristol.org.uk/referrals/
Dates for upcoming Mums In Mind sessions
Hartcliffe CC – Mondays 15th Jan – 18th March
Long Cross CC – Tuesdays 16th Jan – 19th March
Stoke Park CC – Thursdays 18th Jan – 21st March
For further information please contact Judith Case (in the New Year) at Home Start Bristol. Tel: 0117 9501170 or email email hidden; JavaScript is required