Service description
The Perinatal Mental Health Service is a team of health professionals that provide personalised and specialist care to people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who have moderate to severe mental health problems relating to pregnancy, childbirth and the first year following a child’s birth (also known as the perinatal period).
Following an initial assessment, we can offer various treatments either in homes, community locations, clinics or via video calls.
Our aim is to help mothers and parents get the support they need to enable their family to live a happy, healthy life together.
To get support from this service, you need to see your GP first. You GP is able to refer you to us.
The care we provide
Some of the support we can provide includes:
- Pre-conception advice and counselling
- Home visits
- Group therapy sessions
- Support clinics
- Nursery nurse sessions to support parents to bond and play safely with their baby, including sensory play
- Counselling and talking therapies
- Advice and support on medications, to help people to make the best choice for them and their baby.
We develop a treatment plan in partnership with you, tailored to your own individual needs.
We are an inclusive service and will make adaptations and adjustments in line with cultural, ethnic or other backgrounds to support your needs.
Referral criteria
Please note that we can only see individuals who have:
- moderate to severe mental health conditions such severe anxiety or depression
- a history of serious mental health difficulties and who are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant
- a family history of serious mental health difficulties such as bipolar disorder or postpartum psychosis.
We do not accept self-referrals. Health professionals can make referrals. Please see the referrals section for more information.
For support with moderate to severe difficulties related to birth trauma, baby loss, and tokophobia, please see the Maternal Mental Health Service webpage.
Referrals can be received from
If you are struggling with perinatal mental health issues, we can help you. Health professionals including GPs, midwifes, health visitors, obstetricians, psychiatrists or the community mental health team can refer into the service. We cannot accept self-referrals so please speak to anyone of the above about getting help from the service.