The Black Country Maternal Mental Health Service supports women and birthing people who have experienced a perinatal loss and have associated difficulties with their day-to-day wellbeing and mental health. The service is provided by a team of healthcare professionals including psychologists, specialist midwives, counsellors and peer support workers.
If you're feeling stuck in your grief journey and are worried about your emotional or mental health, or struggling with your day to day functioning, speak to your GP, midwife or health professional about a referral.
The service also provides advice & support to our maternity colleagues and other partner agencies where appropriate.
The Black Country Maternal Mental Health Service is for women and birthing individuals who are registered with a Black Country GP
The service accepts referrals for individuals who are experiencing moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties as a result of perinatal loss (such as miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, stillbirth, and neonatal death) and require psychological assessment and/or intervention.
You can be referred to our service by any healthcare professional such as midwives, health visitors, GPs, social workers, therapists or counsellors.
Many of our appointments will be virtual, using video technology, or we might call you on the phone.
We will also work to offer face to face appointments where this feels safe and appropriate. If you feel worried about any of this then you can talk to us.
- Psychological therapy : Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Integrative Psychotherapy, Systemic approaches
- Psychoeducation and group work
- Specialist MMHS midwifery intervention . Our dedicated specialist perinatal midwives work to support the reduction of distress and to improve your wellbeing in pregnancy.
- Peer support (alongside other interventions)
We work closely with other services to make sure you can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
We work in partnership with your midwife, health visitor, GP and anyone else involved in your care. It would be typical for us to share essential information with those partners about your care.
We will always discuss this with you in your appointments before sharing any information about you.
At your first appointment we will aim to understand a little bit more about how things have been for you and how we can help you.
Referrals to the service will be accepted from:
- Bereavement & Specialist Midwives
- Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit Midwives / Nurses
- Perinatal Mental Health Services
- High Intensity Talking Therapies Practitioners
- Black Country Primary Care Mental Health Nurses
- Black Country General Practitioners
- We may also consider referrals from other sources following case discussion
All referrals must be made using the MMHS Referral Form and be sent to the MMHS dedicated referrals inbox (bchft.mmhsreferrals@nhs.net), which will be accessed Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm by the service administrator.
Advice and support before a referral is made can be obtained via consultation with a qualified MMHS clinician during hours of service operation. This can be organised via the service administrator.
The outcome of the referral will be communicated with the referrer within two working weeks of receipt of referral, following discussion at a weekly team meeting (referrers are welcome to join this meeting). Additional information may be requested from the referrer if necessary.
We aim to offer individuals who require an assessment an initial appointment within four weeks of receipt of referral.
Make Birth Better
Offer support to guide all people affected by traumatic birth experiences
www.makebirthbetter.org
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society - SANDS
SANDS support bereaved parents and families if a baby dies before, during or after childbirth.
www.sands.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 164 3332 (lines open Monday – Friday 10am - 3pm, Tuesday and Thursday 6pm – 9.30pm)
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Fertility Network UK
Provides free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding for anyone affected by fertility issues.
www.fertilitynetworkuk.org
Helpline: 0121 323 5025 (Monday to Friday) 10am – 4pm
Email: support@fertilitynetworkuk.org
The National Childbirth Trust
NCT offer information and advice about pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care to parents and parents-to-be.
www.nct.org.uk
Helpline: 0300 33 00 700 (lines open 8am - midnight)
Tommy’s
Tommy’s offer information about premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth
www.tommys.org.uk
Email: info@tommys.org
Lily Mae Foundation/Baby Loss Support Charity
We are the support group that are going to help you through one of the most difficult times of your life, and we can do this because we have been there ourselves.
Our Office Number is: 01676 535716
