Support Services in Devon and the UK supporting parents
If you are, or someone you know is, experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and need urgent support, please contact your local Perinatal Mental Health Team, your GP, Health Visitor or local Home Start team.
Bereavement
Bereavement and therapeutic support for sudden/unexpected loss of a child under 25
Practical and emotional support for those who have lost a baby in stillbirth or neonatal period in Devon/Cornwall
National network of support groups supporting parents who have lost their baby with resources and a helpline
National organisation providing bereavement support and helpline
National charity providing grief and bereavement support including via a national helpline
Miscarriage support
National organisation with helpline to support those who have experienced pregnancy loss/miscarriage
National charity offering advice/support for anyone affected by baby loss
Birth
Debriefing
NHS Birth Debriefing
Debrief your birth with a midwife in a one-hour meeting. You’ll go through your medical notes together to help explain what happened. This service is available at all maternity units in Devon.
For RDUH, email: rduh.birthconversations@nhs.net
For Torbay, email: tsdft.birthafterthoughts@nhs.net
For Plymouth, email: plh-tr.birthafterthoughts@nhs.net
Maternity and Neonatal Voice Partnership
A safe place to share your feedback about your maternity or neonatal care. Devon MNVP listens to families’ experiences and works with NHS Devon to help improve services.
Premature
Support for parents with babies born premature or sick
Support for neonatal families
Support/Advocacy
AIMS works towards better births for all by campaigning and information sharing, protecting human rights in childbirth and helping women to know their rights, whatever birth they want, and wherever they want it.
Your basic birth rights (translated into 16 languages)
Trauma
Support for anyone affected by birth trauma
Support for parents and professionals impacted by birth trauma, including training and campaigning and support resources
National organisation supporting women with injuries from childbirth
Black Mothers
Black and Asian perinatal health & wellness space on instagram
Community Organisation committed to supporting and celebrating Black pregnancies across the UK, offering support, groups and advocacy
Instagram campaign group supporting Black mums so they can thrive, not just survive
App to support Black maternal health
Specialist support to black and minoritised victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence in Devon.
Breastfeeding support
Breastfeeding support in North Devon
National organisation and helpline with support, guidance and information on supporting breastfeeding
National organisaton providing information, support to breastfeeding mums
Local peer support for breastfeeding parents
Crisis & Suicide prevention
NHS helpline for medical help for mental health crises
National helpline to support anyone struggling to cope who may have or know someone with suicidal thoughts
Suicide prevention app with resources and tools
Dads
Resources for new dads to support parenting
Have specific resources/support groups for dads
Social Peer to Peer run group
LGBT+
National foundation supporting LGBT+ communities with talking therapies and helpline
Supporting LGBT+ communities inc parents via counselling, support, resources with helpline
Domestic Abuse
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Domestic abuse support via Refuge, for women experiencing domestic abuse, their family anf friends calling on their behalf. Refuge provides safe, emergency accomodation and emotional and practical support.
Outreach, Prevention, Support groups/group work programmes especially for women experiencing multiple disadvantages
Alliance of partner organisations supporting those experiencing domestic abuse; information and referral pathways available via website
Information on support for domestic abuse and pathways of support
National Centre for Domestic Violence
National charity providing fast, free, effective legal support for victims of domestic abuse inc. men, women and children
Support for trans and non-binary victims of domestic abuse
Information and support pathways for domestic abuse
Helpline to support LGBT+ people experiencing abuse
Eating Disorders
National eating disorder charity providing support for anyone affected by eating disorders plus a national helpline
NHS Community Eating Disorder Service
NHS community service for moderate to severe eating disorders via Wonford House, operating in conjunction with FREED and TALKWORKS
Family Health/Support
Sure Start centres give help and advice on child and family health, parenting, money, training and employment. Some centres also provide early learning and full day care for pre-school children
Supports families of any kind, including with mental health problems
Local information hub, breastfeeding/perinatal support for parents and location for baby groups and courses for parents
Baby Banks - North Devon and Exeter
Free resources for families with infants/babies
Family Resource Team - Exeter Community Initiatives
Local support for parenting and families with children
NCT - National Childbirth Trust
Support and information for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood
International Association of Infant Massage
Maternity Advocacy
Join Maternity Action in calling for an end to unfair redundancies for pregnant women and new parents
A charity dedicated to ending the motherhood penalty, supporting tens of thousands of women each year, and successfully campaigning for change
Perinatal Mental Heallth
The Association for Post Natal Illness
PND/Postnatal depression:Provides support for women experiencing postnatal depression
Anxiety/perinatal anxiety: Advice and support for people living with anxiety:
Anxiety/perinatal anxiety: Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for people with anxiety disorders
Devon Perinatal Mental Health team
If you’re experiencing severe mental health difficulties or you’re at risk of becoming very unwell during your pregnancy (antenatal) or up to one year after the birth (postpartum), the perinatal team can support you.
Information and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem during or after pregnancy
Mental health support for parents in Devon. They have perinatal champions who help improve Talkworks offers to people during the perinatal period.
Mental Health Charity with information, support and links to services for a range of mental health issues
Maternal Mental Health Alliance
National alliance of organisations advocating for maternal mental health; website has information for new parents on mental health topics
Support groups in Exeter and Honiton for mothers/parents struggling with mental health in the perintal period
Perinatal OCD: Information and support for people experiencing perinatal OCD, and their families
Specialist national perinatal charity supporting mums and their families via counselling, birth trauma therapy and more
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP):
Supporting and advocating for anyone affected by postpartum psychosis
Royal College of Psychiatrists - Mental Health
Mental health information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Perinatal Pelvic Health
Devon Perinatal Pelvic Health Service
Pelvic health care in Devon for pregnant women and postpartum women up to 12 months post-birth
Last Updated 1 June 2026