Are you pregnant or a new parent?

Being pregnant and having a baby is usually thought of as a happy time. However, for some, it does not necessarily feel this way.

Partners and fathers may also be struggling to cope and not know what to do to make things better for themselves or their partner.

How are you feeling?

During pregnancy and as new parents you may be feeling:

• Sad and low
• Tearful for no apparent reason
• Worthless
• Hopeless about the future
• Tired
• Unable to cope
• Irritable and angry
• Guilty
• Anxious
• Unsupported

You may also have intrusive or worrying thoughts and be struggling emotionally at this time, which can happen to anyone in the same situation.

Who does it affect?

As many as one in five women experience emotional difficulties during pregnancy and in the first year after having a baby.

We understand that this is an enormous transition, bringing with it changes to your relationship.

You are not alone and we can help you.

How TALKWORKS can help you:

At TALKWORKS our staff are trained professionals who are here to help you understand how your thoughts and feelings are affecting you.

We are open to anyone over the age of 18 who live in Devon (excluding Plymouth). We can provide you with talking therapies and coping strategies to help you through this life-changing period in your life.

With teams across Devon and Torbay, we can usually see you close to where you live and appointments can take place in a variety of community buildings, children centres, hospitals, GP surgeries and libraries. We can see you in the evenings if you prefer and initially you can bring your baby with you. If you prefer, you can speak to us over the phone, or make an appointment with your GP to discuss how we can help.

Please don’t feel like you have to struggle in silence. The sooner you take the next step and contact us, the sooner we can help you to feel like ‘you’ again.

We work closely with your perinatal mental health service, health visitors, and local children centres to ensure that you are receiving all the car and treatment available to you.

Choice of help:

We will look at options with you which are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

This looks at the way that thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact, sometimes in a helpful, and sometimes in an unhelpful way.

We provide a choice of help that includes:

• Working with you to identify the difficulty you are having
• Helping you in deciding where to start
• Recommending reading that would be helpful for you
• Providing information about other local resources that might be helpful for you
• Identifying thoughts and actions which may be unhelpful for you
• Identifying strengths and support to draw on
• Guidance in setting realistic goals and support in achieving them
• Providing support through self-management programmes that are proven to be effective
• Individual therapy
• Group work which consist of six, two hour sessions that focus on techniques to improve depression, manage negative thoughts, manage anxiety and worry, bonding and attachment issues and feelings that you are not good enough.

Self-refer

You can self-refer to TALKWORKS as follows:

• Call 0300 555 3344
• Complete the self-referral form at www.TALKWORKS.dpt.nhs.uk

Perinatal mental health service

• Exeter – 01392 674 964 – dpn-tr.PerinatalTeamExeter@nhs.net
• Torbay – 01803 396 590 – dpn-tr.PerinatalTeamTorbay@nhs.net
• North Devon – 01271 443 177 – dpn-tr.PerinatalNorth@nhs.net
• South Hams and West Devon – 01822 813 070 – dpt.perinatalteamwestdevon@nhs.net