I researched Merseyside from top to bottom in 2014 to find support and come up short; since then I have been actively providing face to face and virtual support for all parents who may need us.I run a peer support group every Monday, in affiliation with PANDAS (PMH Charity), which is completely informal and welcoming to anyone at any stage of their mental health journey.
From the peer support I aid in, I also have a little book of all the support I can signpost onto, if our peer support is not quite what they need at the time.
Recently I was able to gain some funding from a great organisation, that helped me to put together an afternoon tea for all my group attendees. We were able to eat cake, drink tea and welcome a lovely guy who came in and taught us some mindfulness, it was a lovely afternoon and from the feedback helped them start the week more positively.
I also have a Facebook group, where people are able to natter and ask for advice, but also my aim is to provide evidence based recovery information, local support and a friendly ear. I also have a little thing whereby I put up a small picture/meme every day,that might just help put a smile on someone’s face if they are having a hard day.Mental Health Stigma is slowly being reduced in my local area, with this there is more and more support being implemented and I am enjoying being apart of that to ensure no parent has to suffer alone.