26 April 2024

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (29 to 5 May 2024) is a reminder to talk about mental health before, during and after pregnancy. 

There are joys to becoming a parent, but we also recognise that psychologically this can be a very complex time.

If you want advice or you’re looking for support, take a look at our services below. These are available to residents across Central and North West London as well as Milton Keynes.

We want to remind you of some helpful resources too, including webinars, short films, posters and useful links. 

An introduction to perinatal mental health

One in four birthing people experience mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. It’s important to keep in mind the different aspects of the journey to pregnancy and parenthood.

Dr Rose Spencer (Deputy Lead Principal Perinatal Psychologist) and Claire Hargrave (Perinatal Nurse Consultant) facilitate this webinar, discussing the risk factors for developing a perinatal mental illness and why it matters for infants.

Watch here

Multilingual perinatal mental health films

This film series helps to raise awareness of perinatal mental health. You can watch the films in the languages of Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Slovak, Mirpuri and Dari.

Watch the films on this page here

Infant mental health and why it’s important

In this webinar, Dr Rose Spencer, Claire Hargrave and Debbie Jeffery (Specialist Perinatal Community Occupational Therapist) outline the importance of infant mental health and how they help caregivers in relationships with their children.

Watch here

Pregnancy and baby loss

Perinatal loss is common but rarely talked about, and this can have a huge impact on wellbeing, effecting the individual as well as the whole family.

In this webinar, the Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (MTLC) talks about supporting individuals who have experienced perinatal loss and the factors that can influence grief, offering suggestions and signposting for self-care.

Watch here

Fertility and childlessness

In the UK, around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving, and estimates suggest that infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2021).

The Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service can talk to you about the types of fertility difficulties, as well as the journey that an individual and their family may face in undergoing both primary and secondary fertility.

What support is available?

CNWL provides a wide range of community perinatal services in the boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Milton Keynes, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. 

They offer treatment and support for people experiencing mental health difficulties before and during pregnancy and within the first year after delivery. 

Every service offers group activities as part of the therapeutic programme including journey to parenthood classes and circle of security parenting programmes. 

This specialist care is delivered close to the maternity unit of your choice, your home or in community centres depending on your preference.

Brent and Harrow Perinatal Community Mental Health Team

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Hillingdon Perinatal Community Mental Health Team

Kensington and Chelsea Perinatal Mental Health Team

Westminster Perinatal Mental Health Team

Milton Keynes Perinatal Mental Health Service

Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (MTLC)

The Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (MTLC) provides support to women and birthing people who may be presenting with mental health difficulties arising from the reproductive journey.

Contact details for residents in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster: 

If residents live in Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow they can refer to the West London service:

Milton Keynes Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (MK-MTLC)

Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit

For over 70 years, Coombe Wood has been providing an inpatient treatment service for mothers with mental health difficulties who are admitted together with their babies (up to one year old).

The unit was the first to be set up in the UK, and they have helped hundreds of mothers, babies and their families recover from serious episodes of postnatal depression, psychosis and other mental health illnesses.

Further information 

Perinatal Mental Health Partnership

The partnership has developed a series of posters:

Useful links