Worry service closure could leave mums suicidal

A support service has said it is "terrified" new mums suffering from suicidal thoughts will be left with nowhere to turn if its group sessions end due to funding pressures.

The Happy Mums Foundation, which supports women experiencing postpartum mental health challenges, was set up in 2015 and has helped more than 1,000 families across Cumbria.

Director Lucinda Bray fears the loss of the in-person "safe place" could worsen the mental health of vulnerable women in the county.

Women who have attended the sessions say the charity, which would move online only, offers "no judgement" peer support and helps mums feel less isolated when experiencing trauma.

Bray said: "I'm terrified, if we don't have in-person groups for mums, where will they go? What will they do?

"Being able to talk about suicidal thinking, is actually quite a good preventative factor, if that doesn't have an outlet and you don't have a safe space to talk about those things, where might they go?"

Source: BBC News Health RSS (Open Press / Translated Full Text)