Perinatal mental health problems affect around one in four new or expectant mothers, covering a wide range of conditions. The leading cause of maternal death in the UK is suicide, and 40 per cent of deaths within the first year after pregnancy are related to mental health.
We are committed to promoting the mental well-being of parents and infants, making sure that every family has access to the support they need during crucial developmental stages.
If you are supporting someone who is struggling with their mental health in the perinatal period, talking and allowing them space to express how they’re feeling is a great first step. If they feel low or anxious, encourage them to speak to their GP, health visitor, midwife or an early help worker and reassure them that asking for help is ok. Getting support to explore how they’re feeling is the first step to feeling better. You can find out more about Kent Health Visiting's Perinatal mental health programme below.
Perinatal mental health programme
Lead health visitors within Health Visiting Teams work to support perinatal and infant mental health by focusing on prevention, early identification, and intervention, while also promoting positive relationships between parents and infants.
Our leads have introduced two emotional wellbeing groups and one-to-one support for families.
The emotional wellbeing programme offers support to anyone who’s given birth in the past year with mild mental health needs. The six-week group is run by the perinatal mental health leads and focuses on facilitating maternal self-care, coping skills and strengthening the parent-infant relationship. Groups are offered face-to-face. Parents can be referred via their local 
The Nurture programme offers support to anyone who’s given birth in the past year with mild to moderate mental health needs. The six-week group is run by the perinatal mental health leads and Talking Therapies, a free and confidential NHS service offering mental health support to anyone over the age of 17-and-a-half in Kent and Medway. The course has:
The leads also provide families with 'Video Interactive Guidance' to enhance their emotional connection with their child. They also support health visiting colleagues deliver emotional wellbeing visits. Leads support clinicians by offering tailored guidance on individual cases to enhance care delivery and collaborating with Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Champions to increase engagement and collaboration within teams.Contact:
Our Lead Health Visitors for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health are:
- Nicky Miller - Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells — n.miller@nhs.net
- Sonya Nichols - Thanet, Canterbury, Swale — sonya.nichols@nhs.net
- Sarah Reed - Dartford, Gravesend, Sevenoaks — sarahreed2@nhs.net
- Nikki Morgan - Dover, Deal, Ashford, Folkestone — n.morgan8@nhs.net
Where to find support
- NHS Talking Therapies are available to anyone over 17 and a half living in the Kent and include talking and listening therapies, like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy. Clients can refer themselves or via their health professional.
- The Perinatal Mental Health Community Service can assess, diagnose and provide short-term treatment of those affected by a moderate to severe perinatal mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period. Clients can refer themselves or via their health professional. Phone 01622 722321 or email kmpt.pmhcs@nhs.net for more information.
- Thrive provides assessment and psychological treatment for moderate to severe mental health difficulties or psychological trauma as a result of or triggered by birth trauma or perinatal loss. Clients must be referred by a health professional or social care staff. Phone 01227 768928 or email kmpt.thrivemhsupport@nhs.net for more information.
- Live Well Kent has free mental health support including finances, housing and employment.
- KMPT Perinatal Services have a useful resource advising what to do when someone is having a mental health crisis.
The following organisations offer support if someone is in emotional distress and needs urgent support
- Release the Pressure has a free helpline – 0800 107 0160 and a text service – text ‘Kent’ to 85258 for free confidential support.
- The Kent and Medway Safe Havens offers four welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgmental and non-clinical environments, sometimes known as 'crisis cafes'. They offer face-to-face support, as well as via phone and video calls and webchat. Clients can self-refer.
- Samaritans has a free helpline – 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org.uk and someone will respond within 24 hours
- Kent and Medway NHS urgent mental health helpline – 0800 783 9111
Useful resources
- Kent Baby has a dedicated mental health and wellbeing section.
- Birth related trauma has information for families who feel an element of trauma surrounding their birth and/or reproductive journey
- Birth Trauma Association for parents to talk to birth trauma peer support workers about their experience, including partners and fathers. Email support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or phone 0203 621 6338 for more information.
- Make Birth Better resources for parents and practitioners supporting people affected by birth trauma
- A new elearning programme that helps the early years workforce better understand the links between breastfeeding and perinatal mental health is now available on the NHS Learning Hub.
- Breastfeeding Network has factsheets on safety of medications while breastfeeding.
- FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans sons and daughters.
- Mind is a great resource for our clients with a learning disability.
- Pandas is a great charity with peer-to-peer postnatal depression support and a free helpline 0808 1961 776.
- Tommy's wellbeing pregnancy and postnatal plan helps professionals to support clients to think about how they feel emotionally and what support might be needed in pregnancy and after the birth.
- We are with you has advice on mental health, drugs and alcohol.
Change the Story: Break the Cycle explains intergenerational trauma and how it affects mothers, parents and babies, and reveals the latest research findings and treatments available. Featuring expert contributors and animations of real case scenarios, the film provides practical tips and signs to spot when dealing with intergenerational trauma.