Parents in Mind provides support to all parents across East Sussex: mothers and birthing people and also fathers and non-birthing partners.

Funded by East Sussex Council and the local Family Hubs provision.

What support is available?

Support is provided across a range of Children’s Centres, Family Hubs, Community Centres, outdoor spaces and also online via Zoom and WhatsApp (both group and one-to-one). Support is tailored to client preference, and moves gently, but with focus: normalising the difficulties of caring for a baby, decreasing isolation, and empowering parents with resources and information. 

Our East Sussex programme is also commissioned to deliver the Anna Freud Reflective Parenting course – a psycho-educational programme to enhance bond and attachment, encouraging sensitive and thoughtful parenting.

Project staff Ruby, Lauren, Polly, Nikki and Naya (women and birthing people support), and Kevin and Lewis (dads and partners support) are the first point of contact for all enquiries – they are at the end of the phone for those interested in support, and are ready to liaise with any of our brilliant local partner organisations to make sure care is ‘joined up’ for our clients.

You can follow us on social media on Facebook and Instagram.

Support offered

All of our regular support is offered by referral only, so please complete the referral form or get in touch if you would like to complete it over the phone. 

In Person Peer support:

  • St Leonards on Monday mornings
  • Uckfield on Wednesday mornings
  • Peacehaven on Friday mornings
  • Eastbourne on Friday mornings

Remote support:

  • 'Mindful Zoom' and WhatsApp Chat support is offered on Wednesday evenings, 8pm to 9pm 
  • Phone one-to-ones are offered flexibly

Additional support in East Sussex

Listed below are a handful of other local organisations who work in partnership with Parents in Mind across East Sussex, which our service users may also find beneficial at this point in their parenting journey.

NHS and Local support

Sussex Mental Health Crisis Line

Call out of hours on 0800 0309 500 or call NHS 111 and select option 2.

Health in Mind: NHS Talking Therapies service

Free for residents of East Sussex. To self-refer:

East Sussex Midwifery

Sussex Local Maternity and Neonatal System

Sussex Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team

East Sussex Family Hub

For playgroups, activities, courses and support.

East Sussex Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership

Third Sector and National support

Birth Trauma Association: For traumatic births  

Email support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or call 0203 621 6338.

Bliss: For families with premature or sick babies

Cry-sis: For offering support with a crying baby

Open from 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

NCT Infant Feeding Line

Call us if you have any questions about feeding on 0300 330 0700 (option 1).

Open everyday from 8am to midnight, including bank holidays.

Confidential Listening services

Shout Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258

Samaritans: Text 116 123

Become a Parents in Mind volunteer

Our project is always keen to welcome new volunteers – parents with lived experience of the struggles raising a newborn can bring, who are passionate about supporting the wellbeing of those in the East Sussex community navigating these struggles today, and can give two hours a week, in exchange for free accredited mental health training and the chance to make a transformative impact on the early days of family life.

Become a volunteer

Further information

For information about partnership and commissioning opportunities in this locality, please email our East Sussex Regional Manager, Ruby Carmichael ruby.carmichael@nct.org.uk