Parents in Mind

Our Parents in Mind project provides safe, sensitive, and impactful perinatal mental health peer support, delivered by local parent volunteers.

Find out how to access the service, become a peer support volunteer, or commission a service in your area.

About NCT Parents in Mind

Bringing a baby into the world can be a joyous experience, but this transition might also present some challenges to a parent’s wellbeing. Connecting with others who have a similar experience can make a huge difference.

Our Parents in Mind service is available for parents:

who are mums and birthing people, and for dads and non-birthing partners in some areas
with mild to moderate mental health challenges
in the perinatal period, from pregnancy up to two years after childbirth

Parents and children with a peer supporter

Peer support for parents

Our peer supporter volunteers provide support for parents.

Peer supporters have lived experience of the challenges that early parenthood can present. They are passionate about making sure new parents don’t feel alone.

Our peer supporters undertake accredited training to provide a friendly listening ear. This support can be one-to-one or in group settings, online or face-to-face.

Parents in Mind project aims

Enable parents to build their confidence and a social support network with other parents

Empower parents with access to information and signposting to other helpful services

Value parental wellbeing and reduce stigma around mental health challenges

Find a Parents in Mind service

Parents in Mind is currently available for mums and birthing people in the following areas:

Coventry and Warwickshire

Our service for dads and birthing partners is available in the following areas:

Dads and Partners in East Sussex

Dads and Partners in Newham

Dads and Partners in North West

How Parents in Mind makes a difference

I found Parents in Mind when I was at my lowest. I was isolated, struggling with the pressures of having a newborn and battling anxiety and depression. Through the amazing work of the peer support volunteers and regular contact from the staff, I was able to move from one to one support and join a group. It was my ‘safe place’. A non-judgemental space that I could escape to once a week where there was a hot drink and an empathetic ear. It may not sound like much, but when you feel you can’t summon the energy to leave the house, it was a light to focus on each week.

Service user

This service was vital for me; I couldn’t even leave the house with my baby by myself. I was struggling with day to day life. The support I’ve been given is outstanding…I’ve felt cared for and supported the whole way.

Service user

Become a Parents in Mind peer supporter

We are looking for peer supporter volunteers to join an amazing team, offering a judgement free, welcoming space to new parents who are feeling anxious, isolated or are struggling with their mental wellbeing.

As a supporter, you will be able to empathise with the ups and downs of parenthood and be that vital listening ear.

We are looking for volunteers who have lived experience of either:

perinatal mental health difficulties
supporting someone closely who has experienced these challenges

How you can help

As a Parents in Mind peer supporter, you will:

provide one-to-one and group-based support for parents, online or in person
offer local and national signposting for parents
liaise with local Parents in Mind staff, who will co-ordinate parallel or more suitable referrals

Training and support

We will provide you with:

21 hours of OCN accredited training
safeguarding and GDPR training and enhanced DBS checks
regular reflective and clinical support from a psychotherapist

How to apply

You can apply to become a peer supporter by completing an expression of interest form.

After you submit the form, a member of the team will get in touch with more information.

Commission a Parents in Mind service

The Parents in Mind service cultivates referral pathways between itself and clinical, maternity and community partners. This offers a useful step up from universal support, and a helpful step down from therapeutic intervention.

Clinical support for parents can be well complemented by social and emotional connections with other local parents and partner community services. This aids confidence and builds resilience, putting the family at the centre of joined up provision when pathways are integrated and cohesive.