Information

Mental Health & Emotional Support available for Parents after NICU in the UK

We have collected as much information as we can about the services available to support parents who have been through NICU. This list is not exhaustive, if we have missed anyone who you know can provide this support, please get in touch and we can add to our list.

(We are not affiliated with any of the charities, private practices or websites shared, the aim is just to spread the word about the support that we know of that is available for parents after neonatal care).

If you are in NICU now, please speak to the nurses on your ward about whether there is any psychological support available. There are more and more Clinical Psychology posts being released every week at the moment and there may be someone available to support you on the unit now if you feel it may help you.

NHS

If you are worried about your mental health, or if you want to talk to someone about what you have been through, in the first instance, your first point of contact should be your GP or your health visitor.

Talk to them if:

  • You are concerned about your mood
  • You are worried about your thinking
  • You are worried about your physical health
  • You are struggling to bond with your baby
  • Your relationships have been impacted
  • You are having thoughts about wishing you weren’t here, or harm to yourself, your baby or others around you.
  • You feel like you are isolating yourself, avoiding things or not engaging in life how you would like to.
  • You feel like you are impacted in your day to day life because of the experience you have been through
  • Having flashbacks (strong thoughts, images, sensations) to your birthing experience/ antenatal/ postnatal experiences

Your GP should assess your mental health and refer you to the relevant mental health support on the NHS, this may be general counselling, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), or in some cases EMDR (Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing- a trauma therapy). You may be referred to a CBT wellbeing service, or your perinatal mental health team. If your child is under one year old you should be fast tracked for support. Most perinatal mental health teams will only see you until your child is one (The referral has to be made by the first birthday).

Most hospitals offer birth reflections if you think it would be helpful to go through your notes and learn more about what happened during your experience of birth, you can access this through your labour ward directly, or through your GP or health visitor.

If you have any complaints about what happened during your birthing experience you can contact PALS.

If you are concerned about risk to yourself or your baby, contact 111, 999, attend your GP or go to A&E depending on the severity.  You can also call Samaritans on 116 123

National Charities

Bliss is a charity who supports families who have been in neonatal care, born either premature or sick

Action on Postpartum Psychosis

Association for Postnatal Illness

Maternal OCD

Maternal Mental Health Alliance

Maternity Action

PANDAS offer support for parents with PND and PTSD

The Motherhood Group support Black mothers through the experience of motherhood through events, workshops, peer support,and advocacy

Tommys is a charity that supports parents, they focus on support after loss, but have a lot of resources and support available

Samaritans provides a confidential listening service you can call them on 116 123.

Rainbow Trust support families with a seriously ill child

Anxiety UK  have a helpline where you can get support with how you are feeling

Gingerbread provide information and support for single parents

Twins Trust support for families with twins, triplets and more

The Lullaby Trust provides information and support on safer sleep for babies

Little Lullaby for young parents who would like some support around safer sleep advice, mental health and more

Sands support those affected by the death of a baby before or shortly after birth

Dads Matters offer lots of support for Fathers through events, workshops and walks

Peeps HIE

Perinatal Mental Health Partnership

LGBT Mummies offer support, education and advocate for LGBT+ women

SCOPE provides support for parents who live with a disability

The Smallest Things Charity provide support with returning to work and around your child starting school

AIMS campaign for better births

Approachable Parenting support BAME communities

Birthrights protect human rights in childbirth


Regional Charities

Acacia Family Support, Midlands Postnatal Depression Support Services

SNUG, Devon  support Neonatal Users & Graduates

Born Too Soon, South East England A Charity for the Kingston Hospital Neonatal Unit

Tiny Life, Northern Ireland

SSNAP, Oxford

Early Birth Association, Brighton

Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity

Pregnancy Care and Counselling (Scotland)

Spectrum Community Health CIC

Simpsons Special Care Babies (SSCB) Charity, Edinburgh

Leo’s Neonatal, North East England

Neoangels, University Hospitals of North Tees and James Cook

Scoo-B-Doo Neonatal Charity, Gloucester

Little Roo Neonatal,St Peter’s hospital

Spoons Charity - Neonatal Family Support , Manchester

Mothers for Mothers | Postnatal mental health support | Bristol, Bath

Cuddles Charity, Neonatal - Cuddles - Saint Asaph, Wales

Making Miracles Registered Charity - Baby Trauma & Bereavement Care , Maidstone  

Best Start for Life | Birmingham City Council

Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS) is an NHS therapeutic service supporting women and birthing people, across Greater Manchester who want talking therapy support following a traumatic pregnancy, birth of neonatal experience or following the traumatic loss of a baby. People may be struggling with grief and/or a post-traumatic stress response. People can self refer or call 0161 271 0188

Private Support

Miracle Moon

Dr Frankie Harrison is a Clinical Psychologist and offers online individual, couples and group therapy for parents who have gone through neonatal care and/ or birth (perinatal) trauma. She is also further trained in EMDR. You can find out more about the type of therapy Frankie can offer and check out FAQs here.



Other therapists who specialise in the perinatal period and have experience of supporting NICU parents:

Birth Trauma Resolution

Birth Trauma Association

Make Birth Better

Kara specialises in baby loss and runs free monthly support groups

Perinatal Psychology Practice

Dr Caroline Boyd

Baby in Mind Psychology

Psychology Oxfordshire

Dr Aurora Falcone

Better Beginnings

Parenthood in Mind

Gary Burgess

Howes Psychology Practice

Illy is a Midwife and Birth Debrief Facilitator providing private birth debriefs

(This list is not exhaustive, if you would like to be included, please get in touch)

Ways to find a local or online therapist

www.bacp.co.uk

psychologytoday.com

counselling-directory.org.uk

findatherapist.co.uk

Always be sure to check out your therapist's credentials, including whether they are with a regulatory body such as the HCPC or the BACP for example.

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