Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) Perinatal Mental Health Services consist of two teams covering different areas (BNSSG and BSW).
We also have two Maternal Loss and Trauma Services: Ocean (BSW) and MaLT (BNSSG).
Who are we?
The BSW Perinatal Service offers assessment, advice and support to birthing people registered with a GP in the BANES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) area.
The BNSSG Perinatal Service offers this service to birthing people registered with a GP in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) area.
The perinatal period covers the time from pregnancy through to two years after birth. It includes both the lead-up to having a baby and the first two years of parenthood. We are a specialist team for people who are experiencing mental health difficulties during this period.
Our teams are made up of registered mental health practitioners, mental health support workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, parent infant therapists, nursery nurses, pharmacists and specialist psychiatrists (medical doctors specialising in mental health).
You are not alone
Around 600,000 women give birth in England every year and research show perinatal mental illness affects up to one in five new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions.
Every part of England now has a specialist mental health team thanks to the NHS Long Term Plan with experts offering women with moderate to severe or complex mental health needs support, including support to develop the relationship between parent and baby.
Referral Information
Referrals can be received from any professional. We cannot accept self-referrals, but we will help signpost and redirect you.
Professionals can make a referral by using the contact information on this page. Please select the area based on where your patient’s GP is registered.
Who are we
The Ocean: Birth trauma and loss service are a small team of psychological therapists and specialist midwives working within BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).
We work with women and birthing people who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties, directly related to their pregnancy or birth. These are most likely to be:
- Traumatic birth experiences
- The loss of a baby for any reason (including miscarriage, stillbirth, termination and neonatal death)
- Anxiety about pregnancy and or birth that may or may not be related to previous experiences (this is sometimes called tokophobia)
- Although unfortunately we are not commissioned to work with partners we can offer an assessment to help find the best support
What do we do?
Triage: After someone is referred to our service we initially decide whether we are the best people to offer them support or if another service might be more appropriate. We work closely with the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team, Talking therapies teams across BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire and other specialist midwifery teams to make sure people get the right help.
Assessment: If we think we might be able to offer a service we then offer an assessment with either one of our specialist midwives or psychological therapists to help us understand the difficulties you are experiencing and your identify your hopes and goals.
Treatment and support: Depending on your needs we can offer one to one support or group support. In one to one work our specialist midwives offer a range of services to support you during your pregnancy, or help you understand what has happened after you have had your baby. Our Psychological Therapist can work with you to process traumatic memories or help you learn some skills to manage your anxiety and sometimes we work together to do both of things.
We also run short courses for pregnant women to help them to prepare by learning more about the physical aspects of pregnancy and birth and gaining some anxiety management skills in relation to managing their fears.
What area do we cover?
We offer a service to women or birthing age people who have a GP within BaNES, Swindon or Wiltshire.
Our specialist midwives are based in the main maternity hospitals and may contact you over the telephone, by video chat or in person whereas our psychological therapist work mainly by video appointment.
How can you contact us
If you are not pregnant you can ask a professional you know such as your GP, midwife or health visitor to refer you to us.
You can Tel: 01249 477399 or email awp.
If you are pregnant you can self refer using the QR code below:
Who are we
The MaLT Service is a small team of psychological therapists and specialist midwives working within BNSSG- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Similar to the Ocean service in Banes, Swindon & Wiltshire, we work with women and birthing people who are experiencing significant complex mental health difficulties, directly related to their pregnancy or birth. These are most likely to be:
Complex Traumatic birth experiences
The loss of a baby for any reason (including miscarriage, stillbirth, termination and neonatal death)
Anxiety about pregnancy and or birth that may or may not be related to previous experiences (this is sometimes called tokophobia.)
Although unfortunately we are not commissioned to work with partners we can offer during the assessment signposting to help find the best support
What do we do?
Brief Initial Assessment: After someone is referred to our service we initially assess whether we are the best people to offer them support, or if another service might be more appropriate whom we would then refer you on to. We work closely with the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team, Talking therapies teams across BNSSG who also have a perinatal pathway for birthing trauma.
Assessment
If we think we might be able to offer a service we then offer an assessment with either one of our specialist midwives or psychological therapists to help us understand the difficulties you are experiencing and your identify your hopes and goals for treatment.
Treatment and support
Depending on your needs we can offer one to one support or group support. In one to one work our specialist midwives offer a range of services to support you during your pregnancy, or help you understand what has happened after you have had your baby. Our Psychological Therapist can work with you to process traumatic memories or help you learn some skills to manage your anxiety and sometimes we work together to do both of things.
We also run short courses for women such as the Moving On After Trauma group (MOAT group) to support women to gain some understanding of how trauma works and gain anxiety management skills in relation to managing their fears.
Contact Us
Tel: 0117 354 6363
General Enquiries: awp.
Referrals: awp.
At AWP, we are making a stand for kindness and respect and against all forms of abuse, aggression, or threatening behaviour.