Becoming a parent / carer can be a rewarding, exciting and challenging time. It’s not unusual to experience a range of emotions which can impact on how we think and feel. There are lots of things which can be useful to help support wellbeing. Your health visitor will signpost you to appropriate services.
Your health visitor is a specialist nurse. They provide individualised care plans in partnership with you -this may include a referral into specialist mental health services where appropriate.
Contacting your health visitor:
Call: 0300 123 4058
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Like the Health Visiting Hub page – @0219HVHubCE
Visit the Health Visiting Service page for more information.
Local support groups
Smile -Peer Support Groups
One-to-one support, home visits, counselling – referral required. Support is also available for dads and partners.
Family Social Sessions held monthly at Ruby’s Fund in Congleton. for more information please email: [email protected]
Peer support sessions run on a weekly basis. For more information about the sessions please visit the Smile Group website.
Motherwell
(Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager, Middlewich area only)
Mums Uniting Mums- empowering women to support themselves and other women on the mothering journey. Support includes:
- Counselling
- Wellbeing programmes
- New Life and Me Group for mums of children up to 2 years
- Mindful Mums for work life balance
Visit the Motherwell website for more information.
Family Ties
A team of Early Years attachment specialists providing support with emotional health and wellbeing
Family First Drop in: Every Monday 9.30am – 11.30am (term time only) at the Autism Inclusive Building in Crewe. Drop in for all parents/carers with little ones from birth to pre-school age. Parenting advice and peer to peer support given.
Baby Bonding / Toddler Bonding: Baby Bonding suitable from birth -1 year of age. A six week programme focussing on strengthening relationships and promoting secure attachments. Toddler Bonding for 1-4 year olds.
Heart to Heart: Ages 5-9 and 10-15 year play based attachment interventions for children and parents to complete together over 6 sessions.
Visit the Family Ties website for more information.
Talking Therapies
All parents are prioritised until there child’s second birthday, self-referral accepted.
The Wellbeing Hub
Psychological therapies 16+, can offer individual, group CBT, counselling. Crewe, Sandbach, Alsager, Middlewich and Nantwich areas only.
Contact: 01606 555260 (Mon-Fri 8.00am – 8.00pm)
Talking Therapies Central Cheshire
My Talking Therapies -Big Life
A range of talking therapies 16+, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Poynton, Congleton and Holmes Chapel area, (if registered with an East Cheshire GP).
Contact: 01625 469 950
NHS East Cheshire Talking Therapies
Just Drop In
Counselling and wellbeing Service for young people aged 12 – 25. (Macclesfield and surrounding areas only).
Contact: 01625 665079
Text: 07718425405
Email: [email protected] www.justdropin.co.uk
Supporting Baby’s Emotional Wellbeing
The ‘Getting to Know Your Baby’ videos from Association for Infant Mental Health (AiMH) have been designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby’s emotional wellbeing. Watch the videos.
Apps
- Dadpad: offers a guide for new dads developed by the NHS –
- Headspace: Meditation and mindfulness tools
- Calm: Mindfulness and meditation techniques
- Sleepio: An online sleep improvement programme
- Other apps are listed on the CAMHS website
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Mental Health Crisis Line
The phone line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a weekend is open to people of all ages.
The phone line is now the first port of call for mental health help – 0800 145 6485
You should still call 999 or go to A&E if you have an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Samaritans – Call 116 123 or email [email protected] www.samaritans.org
Crewe Crisis Café
Anyone 18+ years old can drop in from 1pm– 10pm 7 days a week for practical advice and signposting.
3 Partidge Close, Flat 2, CW1 3TQ
Visit the Crewe Crisis Cafe website for more information.
Macclesfield Crisis Café
Walk in 10-2pm, Mon-Sun Offering a safe and welcoming environment to promote emotional wellbeing, offer practical advice, signpost. Anyone 18+years.
Open 10-10 Mon-Sun to support in a crisis. The Weston Centre, Earlsway, SK11 8RC
Call: 01625440700
Family Hubs
Family hubs support children and young people from 0-19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities) and their families.
They provide support for parents and carers and help them to access:
- child and family health services
- family support and outreach
- childcare and early education
- information and guidance to support parents/carers
- specialist support for children with additional needs
- a range of activities that support parents/carers to explore and access training, education and employment by working with Parents First
Find out more about Family Hubs in Cheshire East
Helplines and Organisations
Mentell– Providing a space to talk for Men
Shout! – Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 Free 24/7 mental health support
Papyrus – A helpline for under 35s who are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email [email protected]
Useful Websites
BBC Bitesize – Bonding and Attachment in the first few weeks – Tiny Happy People
Mind – Support and advice for anyone experiencing a mental health issue
NHS – Information on all mental health difficulties
Mood Cafe – Common mental health difficulties
Mental Health Organisation – Information, research and resources
Action for Happiness – Ways to improve mood
Psychology Tools – Self-help materials and CBT worksheets
Doc Ready – Preparing for a mental health appointment
Get Self Help – Range of self-help materials for many mental health difficulties
Stonewall – Information and advice for LGBT people on a range of issues
Samaritans – Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. The team is here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
No more Suicide website – Support, resources, and commissioned services available in Cheshire and Merseyside.
Safety Plan website – Creating a safety plan is a useful way to write down listed 24/7 support services, coping strategies and emergency contacts.
