MumsAid provides free counselling for women experiencing difficulties during or after pregnancy.
To provide therapeutic support for families affected by antenatal and postnatal depression (PND), to reduce the impact on the mother as well as the long-term consequences for her baby. We are also committed to removing the barriers which prevent women seeking help by challenging the stigma that surrounds PND and by raising awareness about the symptoms, impact and treatment. MumsAid's counselling team are highly trained and experienced counsellors and psychotherapists all working as volunteers.
Why the community needs usWe offer 12 sessions of counselling free to anyone who needs it. We provide free creche support but will also see mothers with their babies. We deal with a wide raft of problems that may occur during this period, including depression, anxiety, birth trauma, obsessive thoughts and bonding difficulties. Our therapists have a broad range of skills including CBT, EMDR (for PTSD) and parent infant psychotherapy and we aim to provide a flexible approach best suited to the individual mother's needs.
Our impact on the communityWe have trained almost 100 frontline staff in PND awareness and have supported over 70 families. Our service has been recognised and validated by the Centre for Excellent Outcomes as an example of Promising Practice for Early Intervention as the impact we have had includes increasing the well-being of mothers who are experiencing pnd; increasing confidence in parenting skills; and improving bonds between mother and baby thus preventing the potentially damaging impact on the babies' development.
