Emotional wellbeing

If they could tell you

Your baby’s brain is making a million new connections every second, making the first two years so important for their healthy development.

That means building strong connections during this period of your baby’s life lays the groundwork for their future well-being and mental health. Lovingly meeting your baby’s needs helps them to learn to manage their emotions and build their confidence and reduces the risk of future mental health issues.

Babies don’t come with a manual, but they do work hard to try to be understood. Knowing how to interpret their body language, facial expressions, noises, and cries can help you effectively meet their needs.

For the latest advice on how best to build your relationship with your baby, you can find support and free resources, including tips and learning materials, at the Start for Life Hub.

Mental health support

If you or your partner feel that one or both of you is in crisis or in need of urgent support, please call 111, contact your GP or the Urgent Mental Health Helpline - 24/7 Telephone on 0800 008 6516

Do not leave the person in crisis or baby unattended during this time.

Assessment and Diagnosis

For assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women affected by a moderate to severe mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period:

Telephone: 01384 314 155

Alternatively, find dedicated support from Perinatal Services and Antenatal Services.

General mental wellbeing information is also available through our Healthy Dudley website.

Targeted Specialist Services

Alcohol Addiction

Find your local support group at NHS Alcohol Support Services.

You can also receive free support from Alcoholics Anonymous.

Drug Addiction

Request free confidential advice on drugs or alcohol from With You.

Stopping Smoking

Contact the Dudley Stop Smoking Service:

Telephone: 0800 0850652 or 01384 732402
Email: info@dudleystopsmoking.co.uk

You can also find further information on the Healthy Dudley website.

Aching Arms

Aching Arms is a national charity offering online support for parents who have experienced baby loss before, during or after birth. 

Telephone: 07464 508994
Email: support@achingarms.co.uk
Facebook: @AchingArmsUk

Birth Reflections 

Birth Reflections - The team at Russells Hall Hospital Maternity Unit holds a birth reflection clinic for antenatal and postnatal women who need it. Advice includes listening to each unique birth experience in a sympathetic and non-judgemental way, helping to build confidence after any trauma and assisting the woman rebuild relationships and get her life back on track.

Telephone: 01384 244358 or read their leaflet here.

The Birth Trauma Association

The Birth Trauma Association is a charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma – post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. Their website includes an information and support page dedicated to fathers and partners, both as supporters of mums and as having experienced birth trauma in their own right.

Telephone: 01264 860380
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk or enquiries@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Facebook: @TheBTA

Black Country Women's Aid

Black Country Women’s Aid – An independent charity supporting survivors of abuse and their children and, helping them to cope with trauma and rebuild their lives.

Telephone: 0121 553 0090 or 0121 552 6448 (24 hour helpline)
Email: info@blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
Facebook: @blackcountrywomensaid

Bliss 

Bliss is the leading UK charity for the 100,000 babies born needing neonatal care each year. Their website contains lots of useful information on all aspects of parenting a baby needing neonatal care, as well as providing access to sources of support.

Telephone: 0808 801 0322
Email: ask@bliss.org.uk
Facebook: @Blisscharity

Cruse

Cruse's vision is that all bereaved people will have somewhere to turn when someone dies. Their mission is to offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and to enhance society's care of bereaved people. Cruse offer face-to-face, Telephone, email and website support, with a national freephone helpline, as well as local services and a website specifically for children and young people.

Telephone: 0808 808 1677 (national helpline)
Facebook: @crusebereavementcare

Dudley Talking Therapy Service

Dudley Talking Therapy Service - This NHS service provides help and support for people experiencing anxiety, low mood/depression, stress, panic and other difficulties. You can self-refer online or by telephone.

Telephone: 0800 953 0404
Email: dihc.dudleytalkingtherapy@nhs.net

Home Start

Home Start is based in Brierley Hill, where staff and trained volunteers work alongside families. They help parents regain confidence and provide a range of support with:

• post-natal depression
• relationship breakdown support
• money issues
• isolation and loneliness
• coping with physical illnesses and disabilities

Telephone: 07809 702700
Email: admin@home-startdudley.org.uk

Lighthouse Counselling

Lighthouse Counselling offers professional counselling services to the residents of Dudley and surrounding boroughs, aiming to help and support people overcome difficulties for a positive future.

Telephone: 01384 239222
Email: admin@lighthousecounselling.org
Facebook: @Lighthouse2426

Mom's Mindful Hub 

Mom’s Mindful Hub aims to help and support parents' mental health and well-being. They offer a range of groups and activities offering peer support and signposting. is for every parent, regardless of age, ethnicity, culture or religion.

Telephone: 07709 039221
WhatsApp: 07444 093184
Email: momsmindfulhub@rethink.org
Facebook: @momsmindfulhub

Phase Trust

Phase Trust, based in Halesowen, wants to support families to ensure those difficult times don’t become the norm or overwhelming. They offer parenting courses and combined working, supporting both parent and child.

Telephone: 0121 585 9419
Email: info@phasetrust.org.uk
Facebook: @phasetrust

Refuge

Refuge works to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. They offer a freephone 24-hour domestic abuse helpline.

Telephone: 0808 2000 247
helpline@refuge.org.uk
Facebook: @RefugeCharity

Relate

Relate – Services include:

• relationship counselling
• family counselling
• mediation
• children's counselling
• young people's counselling
• sex therapy

Telephone: 0121 643 1638
Email: info@relatebirmingham.co.uk
Facebook: @relatecharity

Sands

Sands - The nationwide Stillbirth & Neonatal Death charity, offering support and information to anyone (parent, grandparent, sibling, families, friends, health professionals, and others) affected by the loss of a baby before, during or after birth. The charity also works to improve the care received by bereaved parents and to promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. 

Telephone: 0808 164 3332 (national helpline)
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Facebook/get involved: @sandscharity and https://www.sands.org.uk/get-involved/sands-united-fc

Tommy's 

Tommy’s is the largest charity funding research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. They also provide information for parents-to-be to help them to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, as well as advice on mental wellbeing. As part of their ‘Pregnancy Hub’, they have specific pages of information and advice for dads and partners.

Telephone: 0800 0147 800
Email: midwife@tommys.org
Facebook: @Tommys