Maternal Mental Health Peer Support Workers Guide

Peer Support

We are peer support workers, part of Mersey Care’s Maternal Mental Health Services in Silver Birch Hubs, and have experienced mental health struggles relating to trauma, distress and loss in our
own maternity journeys.

You are not alone

We understand what that can feel like. We are here to listen to your journey if you want to share it, reduce the isolation and stigma attached to trauma and loss, and support you to feel more engaged in your community.

What we do

We provide personalised and individual care. This might be a telephone call, a face to face meet up or a virtual online appointment. We work towards your goals, alongside you.

Typical goals may include:

• to reduce feelings of loneliness around your experience
• being able to share experiences and feelings with someone who understands
• getting support in your local community services, such as a attending a local support group.

We can offer support for as long as you are with the team, whether that be a one off chat or further ongoing support, we can make that decision together. These sessions can vary in frequency, such
as weekly or fortnightly.

We will work with you and listen to what you want, then consider together how best to support you. We have a duty to keep you safe, but will always endeavour to support your confidentiality .

Peer support is optional during your time with Silver Birch Hubs, there is no obligation to talk to us or have us involved in your care and if at any point you want to step back from the support that is completely fine. This would not impact on receiving any other support from the service.

Our Peer Support Workers

I am Linda and I have been through a difficult traumatic maternity journey which impacted on my mental health. At times I needed extra support from mental health services.

I was overwhelmed with all kinds of feelings and emotions and it took time to process what had happened. One thing that really helped me was connecting with others who had similar experiences
and struggles in their maternity journey. This gave me hope and helped me feel less alone with my experience.

"Talking to someone who really understood was life changing for me after feeling so isolated and alone."

I am Alia and I had three traumatic birth experiences that impacted me a lot, it took me few years to get back to normality. The great thing that helped me during that time was listening and talking to
other friends and family members with similar experiences.

Now, as a peer support worker, I want to help service users achieve their goals by assisting them on their recovery journey through sharing lived experience, listening, and support.

"I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for peer support."

I am Claire, and my own mental health has been affected quite heavily throughout my pregnancy and birth journeys. I found myself needing to access therapy and support on several occasions.

When I think back, I found it invaluable to be able to talk about my experiences in a safe space with people who could relate to what I was going through. Now, I want to be able to use that lived
experience to help support others on their maternity journeys in a similar positive way.

"When I think back, I found it invaluable to be able to talk about my experiences in a safe space with people who could relate to what I was going through."

I am Zoe, and I experienced a lot of hardship throughout my maternity journey which led to my involvement in mental health services.

Although difficult, these experiences have helped to shape who I am and have made me passionate about helping others who are facing similar challenges. My hope is that, by creating a safe space to talk to someone who truly understands, I can make a real difference in your journey towards recovery.

"These experiences have helped to shape who I am and have made me passionate about helping others who are facing similar challenges."

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens andresponds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377Freephone: 0800 328 2941Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk