Our Impact
Awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and Winner of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance Perinatal Peer Support Award
perinatal mental health supportCelebrating our Achievements: A Summary of Mothers for Mothers’ Impact in 2023-24
Mothers for Mothers collected feedback from mothers we’ve supported over the year from April 2023 to March 2024 and would like to share some of the highlights. The services we’ve provided this year include:
- Telephone support and helpline
- Home visiting
- Peer support groups
- Peer support on the New Horizons Mother and Baby Unit (MBU)
- Art therapy and counselling (at the MBU and in the community)
- Antenatal groups
- Peer support for mothers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Trips and events
Improved mental health
82% agreed or strongly agreed that their general mood has improved, and they have felt less depressed (up 10% from last year).
“I am able to handle daily life without feeling extreme anxiety and low mood taking over at all times. I have begun finding enjoyment in things again, something I didn’t think was possible not so long ago.”
Reduced isolation
89% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt less isolated or lonely (up 8% from last year).
“The thing that helped the most was to know that I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling.”
Structure and stability
The arrival of a new baby is a time of upheaval when routines are disrupted, and mothers can easily feel adrift and overwhelmed. Mothers for Mothers supports families to find new routines, and to create order and structure in their lives.
“The group peer support worker has been a stable and reliable source of support which is very stabilising for my mental health.”
Fighting stigma
97% agreed or strongly agreed that they feel more reassured about what they have been experiencing (up 5% from last year). For mothers attending an antenatal group, this increased to 100%.
“Thanks to my meetings with my home visitor… I know that it’s only a phase and it will go. This helps me not to feel guilty of my feelings and I understand that I am allowed to have worse day.”
Hope for the future
91% agreed or strongly agreed that they feel more hopeful about the future (up 7% from last year)
“I’m slowly getting my identity back and I’m planning already for my future.”
Promoting self-care
80% agreed or strongly agreed that they give more importance and time to self-care (up 8% from last year).
“I have more awareness about my past and my behaviour, more self-care and compassion towards myself.”
Increased resilience
Mothers described how staff and volunteers had built them up to be more resilient. This has helped them to be more effective parents and to advocate for their children when necessary.
“I feel better able to cope with the ‘curve balls’ that life throws at me.”
Supporting bonding
68% agreed or strongly agreed that the relationship or bond with their child has improved. For those attending an antenatal group, this increased to 79%.
“I now feel loved by my son. He now calls for me and wants me around more.”
Building confidence
86% agreed or strongly agreed that they feel more confident in parenting their child (up 8% from last year).
“I’m feeling happier and more confident as mum. I know I can get through the tough times.”
Better relationships
84% of mothers who had art psychotherapy or counselling said that they feel more able to explain the way they feel and why to family members.
“It’s helped me have a better relationship with my husband and extended family and put boundaries where necessary.”
Safe spaces
Mothers valued a sense of safety across all our services. They felt that vulnerable or painful feelings could be shared, heard, and understood.
“It’s a place where I feel safe and where I can have a good cry or a good chat with other mums who understand mental health.”
Non-judgemental attitudes
Mothers all too frequently encounter judgemental attitudes from others around them, and mothers can judge themselves harshly too. We counteract this by being warm, open, and accepting.
“The support groups are such a valuable, non-judgemental and accepting space. I feel a sense of relief as soon as I arrive.”
The power of lived experience
We understand the value of speaking with someone who has ‘been there’. Shared lived experience helps mothers to feel understood, reduces stigma, and promotes hope.
“The women I spoke with and who supported me had all experienced perinatal illness. They spoke from deep personal experience so I believed that I would also get better.”
Flexible support
Our services are designed so that supporters can accommodate different mothers’ needs and situations.
“It felt very personal, tailored to my needs.”
‘Whole person’ approach
Mothers valued being able to access more than one of our services at a time and felt that they were viewed as a whole person rather than just from a perspective of their mental health.
“Practical support was what I needed, as well as emotional support. My home visitor was an all-rounder with support.”
No mother left behind
We aim to make our support accessible to all mothers, whatever their background or experiences. There are no lengthy or complicated referral processes when accessing our services.
“I found it so easy and accessible to attend the support group. I felt incredibly welcomed and I know if I was finding things difficult, I could go back to the group.”
Skilled and caring
- 100% rated the support from their home visitor as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’
- 100% rated the support from their art psychotherapist or counsellor as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’
- 100% rated the antenatal groups as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’
“I found the facilitator to be amazing at facilitating these sessions. She was caring, positive and very knowledgeable, making me feel at ease from the first meeting.”
Equality Impact Assessment: Reach
Mothers for Mothers’ Reach service comprises a helpline, regular support telephone calls, and online support for women and birthing people affected by perinatal mental illness. Reach provides an equitable service across all of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
The helpline provides immediate support to women and birthing people, as well as to their partners, family members, friends, health professionals, and anyone directly affected. Support calls offer mothers a regular weekly call or text. This a confidential listening and planning service exclusively for women and birthing people suffering from a perinatal mental illness. Online support is also provided to mothers only via social media direct messaging, email, and moderated discussion on a closed Facebook group.
