Health visitors in Leicestershire are encouraging parents of babies and toddlers to ‘take time to talk’ and reach out for support during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

Running from Monday 4 May to Sunday 10 May 2026, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of mental health issues before, during, and after pregnancy. 

Research shows perinatal mental health difficulties affects around one in four women, covering a wide range of conditions. What’s more, it is also estimated around one in 10 fathers experience postpartum depression or anxiety.

Throughout the week, LPT will be raising awareness about some of the support available to parents and families across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, as well as providing tips on ways to support mental wellbeing in early parenthood.

Jennifer Weedon, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s principal clinical psychologist for the perinatal and maternal mental health teams, said: “It is so important to remember that mental health difficulties in early parenthood are very common. If you are struggling, you are not alone. We also know that some people may try to hide or underplay maternal mental health difficulties, due to fears or worrying people will not understand. However, if left without support, difficulties can sometimes have a long-lasting impact on the parent, the child, and the wider family.

“Help is available. Whether it is a family member, friend, health visitor, midwife, obstetrician or your GP, please reach out if you need support and we can work together to help you feel better.”

LPT runs a variety of services that support new parents, including those experiencing mental health difficulties. As well as running the Healthy Together health visiting service for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, LPT also provides specialist support via its perinatal mental health and maternal mental health services. The Trust’s Perinatal Mental Health Service, provides treatment for people who have complex or severe mental health issues relating to pregnancy, childbirth and during the first year following a child’s birth. The Trust’s Maternal Mental Health Service helps people with moderate to severe difficulties related to birth trauma, baby loss, and tokophobia (a fear of pregnancy).

In order to make themselves available to new parents in the local community, the  perinatal mental health and maternal mental health teams are holding a series of pop-up events during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. These include:

Tuesday 5 May

• 10am – 12pm: Mountfields Family Hub, Loughborough, LE12 3GE
• 1pm – 3pm: Leicester General Hospital Antenatal Clinic, LE5 4PW

Wednesday 6 May

• 10am – 12pm: Shama Women’s Centre, LE2 0TD

Thursday 7 May

• 10am – 12pm: Market Harborough Library, LE16 7LT
• 1pm – 3pm: Leicester Royal Infirmary Antenatal Clinic, LE1 5WW

Friday 8 May

• 10am – 12pm:  Barwell Family Hub, Leicester, LE9 8DS

The teams are also hosting a wellbeing walk and talk on Wednesday 6 May from 1pm – 3pm, starting at Western Park, LE3 6HX. The walk will follow a pushchair-friendly route, with parents, babies, children friends and family all welcome.

Jennifer added: “We really encourage anyone who feels like they could do with some support to come to one of our pop-ups or attend the wellbeing walk. You’ll be able to speak with some of our clinicians, find out about local support services and meet other people who may be experiencing similar challenges relating to early parenthood.

“We’d also welcome hearing from friends or family members who would like to find out more about maternal mental health and steps they can take to support a loved one.”

What local support is available?

In addition to LPT’s perinatal and maternal mental health services, there is a wealth of help available across LLR, ranging from advice and self-help to specialist care.

• The Health for Under 5s website contains a wealth of information written by health professionals for new and expectant parents, including signposting and information about local support. Visit:healthforunder5s.co.uk/
• Fathers can download the DadPad app, designed to support dads-to-be and dads of new babies. Visit:www.thedadpad.co.uk/
• Family Hubs have been set up across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, helping families navigate every stage of life. Visit: www.families.leicester.gov.uk , www.familyhubsleicestershire.org.uk/ , orwww.rutland.gov.uk/rutland-information-service/rutland-family-hub
• Parents can get advice in-between health visitor visits and appointments by calling the Healthy Together Helpline or using the ChatHealth secure text messaging service. The ChatHealth service operates from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. If you live in Leicester text 07520 615 381 and if you live in  Leicestershire and Rutland text 07520 615 382 to access the service. The Healthy Together Helpline can be reached by calling 0300 300 3001. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Please note that neither of these services are crisis services.
• You can self-refer for Talking Therapy on the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Vita Health Group website
• The Joy website helps you to find activities, groups and support services local to you. Visit:www.LLRjoy.com
• Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés provide local support for people who need immediate help with their mental health. The cafes are drop in centres for anyone to come and talk to us about their mental health – no appointment needed, with supportive, trained staff who can listen and provide practical support. Visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/service/neighbourhood-mh-cafes/ to find out more. 
• Anyone needing immediate help with their mental health can call NHS 111 and select option 2. Always call 999 if there is an emergency or threat to life.

Self-care tips that can help to support your emotional wellbeing as a new parent

It help to find ways to look after yourself when becoming a new parent. Some ways you can do this are:

• Building a support network – try to get out to local parent and baby groups, peer support networks or make plans to see friends or family.
• Accept help if it is offered and you feel comfortable doing so, for example with shopping, cooking or cleaning.
• Try not to put pressure on yourself to keep up with all the things you used to do or set unrealistic standards.
• Be kind to yourself and practise self-compassion. Talk to yourself in the same way you’d talk to a friend and try not to be hard on yourself.
• Keep active, even if it is going for a walk with the pram. Physical activity can help to boost your mood.
• Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet to fuel your body.

Signs to look out for

Signs of mental health difficulties in someone who is pregnant or has recently had a baby include:

• Feeling tearful, anxious or low for more than two weeks
• Feeling much more irritable or angry than usual
• Feeling hopeless, as though things will not get better
• Significant changes to appetite, such as eating more for comfort or forgetting to eat
• A loss of enjoyment or interest in anything
• Avoiding other people
• Struggling to bond with the baby
• Feelings of inadequacy/incompetency as a parent
• Negative intrusive thoughts
• Frequent crying for no obvious reason
• Constantly worrying or feeling anxious; you might notice a racing pulse, thumping heart, breathlessness or sweating
• Thoughts or acts of self-harm
• Feeling confused or paranoid that something bad will happen
• Experiencing hallucinations.

These can be indicators of a number of perinatal mental health conditions, such as postnatal depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum psychosis.

It is also advised for people with a history of mental health problems to seek support from their GP, midwife, health visitor or mental health team when pregnant or thinking of having a baby.