Released on: 10 October 2025
This World Mental Health Day, NCT Parents in Mind in Coventry and Warwickshire wants to let mothers and birthing people struggling with their mental health know that support is available. The project provides safe, sensitive mental health peer support for local mothers and birthing people in pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
World Mental Health Day, which takes place annually on the 10th October, provides an opportunity to have conversations around mental health and how to provide better mental health support for everyone.
The NCT Parents in Mind project runs face-to-face groups in a number of locations across Coventry, as well as in Bedworth, Royal Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick, as well as remote support.
Parents in Mind Coventry and Warwickshire plays a crucial role in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of new and expectant mothers and birthing people. It not only helps parents experiencing low mood or anxiety but also acts as an early intervention that reduces the need for more intensive statutory services.
The project is run by local peer supporters, who have undertaken accredited training and have lived experience of the challenges that early parenthood can present. They are passionate about making sure new parents don’t feel alone. One of them is Hayley, a local parent of two from Coventry, who struggled with her mental health during her pregnancy and now encourages others to seek support this World Mental Health Day.
“Both my pregnancies, I struggled with my mental health. Especially during my second pregnancy and after the birth, it was tough. I had like 5 panic attacks a week for about four months, it was absolutely horrendous. I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating. I was just having like, panic attack and anxiety attack after each one,” Hayley said.
Luckily, Hayley had a strong support system in her friends and family, helping her to get better. One of her friends also encouraged her to volunteer and eventually work for NCT Parents in Mind, to help other parents who have similar experiences.
“It's so fulfilling to sit and talk to women that are in pain and to be able to help them because you've been there and done it yourself. I think it can be a really scary journey becoming a parent and I don't think everyone's so lucky to have support around. But here at Parents in Mind, we are a family. And I think when a mum is having a bad day and they see another mum having a bad day, who are open about it, and it makes us feel better because it makes us feel normal. Unfortunately, social media portrays this image of people that are absolutely perfect and we're not. So, Parents in Mind is a non-judgmental and safe space where women can just be open and leave feeling better. I have never met a more welcoming, lovely group.”
This World Mental Health Day, Hayley’s message to new and expectant parents and Coventry and Warwickshire is clear:
“My message would be to reach out. It is very normal to feel anxious and worried about needing help. But we are such a lovely community, completely non-judgmental and I promise you, as soon as you walk through that door you will feel so loved. You'll feel like you can just reach out to us. And you'll feel like the weight's been lifted off your shoulders.”
Alison Baker, who is the Perinatal Peer Support Service Regional Manager for Coventry and Warwickshire, said:
"At NCT we support thousands of parents every year. We know that many of them struggle with their mental health. This World Mental Health Day, we want to let mothers and birthing people know that we are here for them.
“Building trust starts with connection, and that looks different for every family. Some are keen to book that referral call to chat through where they are at and what they can access, others need that chat to be done via text. Some need a slow introduction, perhaps starting with a WhatsApp Live Chat where they don't have to say anything. Others are itching to get to meet others face-to-face, but need moral support to get from the street by the venue into the room. However parents engage, we meet them there.”
The project delivers this critical service for new and expectant parents in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust and Coventry City Council (Start for Life).
