SERVICE DETAILS
Weekly peer support group where we offer advice and information
We offer a safe, relaxed environment in our groups alongside friendly chat, a welcoming smile and absolutely no judgement.
This group is run by Cat, Marion and Jennifer and is open to adults and babes in arms.
Who Can Access Junos Services?
Juno supports Mums and Mums to be whose main presenting issue and/or primary diagnosis is a perinatal mental health issue. This is general accepted to be from conception up to around two years after birth. We will also accept referrals, in exceptional cases, where it has become apparent that the Mum went un-diagnosed and symptoms are still being experienced.
How Can I Access Junos Services?
Mums are very welcome to self-refer to our groups and just come along, we have no waiting list and all of our groups are drop in. We also accept referrals from GPs, midwives, health visitors, family support workers and other relevant health professionals and organisations. Junos additional services such as counselling, EFT, TRE etc are generally only open to Mums attending our groups. However, in certain circumstances we are happy to offer these to Mums not attending and this will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Are There Any Exclusions to Attending a Juno Group?
Juno is open and inclusive to all Mums, however if symptoms appear to be mainly due to relationship break down, physical and/or emotional abuse, poor housing, poverty, substance misuse and dependence we would signpost to other agencies we feel are more relevant. As stated above Juno is for Mums and Mums to be whose main presenting issue and/or primary diagnosis is a perinatal mental health issue.
What happens in our groups?
All our groups are facilitated by a volunteer. During the day, babies and children are very welcomed and there are toys and games provided.
We ask that Dads and other family or friends don’t come to the group to enable open discussion.
There is tea, coffee and biscuits available.
The groups have a flexible friendly format. When there is a new mum, we always give a short introduction so you know who the others in the group are. For some mums, coming to the group for the first time is hard enough, so there is never any pressure to say anything although we often find mums are desperate to let someone else know what’s happening with them and that’s OK. Some mums might cry in the first few weeks they come, and that’s quite normal – others don’t. Don’t let that put you off coming – we always have a large supply of tissues. We chat about how our weeks have been, things that have been good or not. We often discuss issues with our children, our partners and our families/friends. We regularly discuss how we have got better – medication, counselling and other therapies including very much how we keep ourselves well. Sometimes we discuss our births. There is never a set subject and that’s what many mums benefit from as there is always time made available to get support for whatever is feeling big at that time.
Some mums will come for a couple of weeks, some have been coming since we started at Juno.
If you are worried at all about coming to our groups, our volunteers can meet up with you beforehand or at another mutually convenient time.
We ask that a small donation is made each week to cover our costs. If you can’t afford this, then please still come along as we are here to support any mum.
