If you feel like you might need some support, you are not alone, help is available.
The organisations below offer help and support to mothers, fathers & families who need it. Do not be afraid to reach out to them, that's what they're there for!
Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Perinatal Depression & Mental ill-health
Knowing the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health during pregnancy & parenthood will enable you to access the right support.
Postnatal depression (PND) can affect a woman following the birth of her child. It is also not uncommon for this illness to affect fathers. About one-third of mothers will have developed the symptoms of depression during pregnancy. These symptoms include tiredness, anxiety and irritability.
With PND, there may not be strong feelings of sadness or unhappiness. This may mean that those affected don’t seek help as they believe it is the result of sleep loss and coping with the demands of a new baby. PND can also present feelings of anxiety. For more information on anxiety, click here.
The 'Pinks'
In the three days following childbirth, most women experience a ‘high’ where they feel happy and excited and may have difficulties sleeping. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘Pinks’. However, some women feel a sense of anti-climax and may even be indifferent to their new baby initially. Generally, all these feelings are normal and pass in a matter of days.
The 'Baby Blues'
The ‘Baby Blues’ can affect about 85% of new mothers. They normally start around the third day after childbirth and last for a few days. Baby Blues are characterized by mood swings and irritability and are generally attributed to hormonal changes and tiredness.
Antenatal depression affects about 10-15% of women in the first three months of pregnancy – particularly if there are marital problems or doubts about having a baby or perhaps if depression was pre-existing prior to pregnancy. Most of the symptoms normally clear as the pregnancy progresses.
Postpartum Psychosis
This is a serious and rare illness, which affects about 1 in 1000 women and begins in the days or weeks following childbirth. It is a medical emergency and help should be sought as soon as possible.
As a parent, looking after your own emotional wellbeing will have a direct and positive influence on your baby’s emotional wellbeing. Acknowledging when you are stressed, anxious or tired is the starting point to receiving the help and support you need. Talking to the right people can often make a big difference.
Whether it's practical, emotional, or financial assistance you need, putting these supports in place early will help you manage your mental health and enjoy time with your baby.
The pages in this 'Wellbeing During Pregnancy & Parenthood' section will provide you with information and links to help and support you as a new or expectant parent, looking after both your and your baby’s mental health during the early years.
Knowledge is power and at AWARE, we're passionate about education. We offer specific mental health programmes to support you as a new or expectant parent during the perinatal period.
We believe that the more you learn about you and your baby’s mental health during and after pregnancy, the better equipped you are to manage it.
Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health during this time and just as physical health is different from physical illness, mental health is also different from mental illness. Learning about and recognising the difference between the two, helps you to know and identify when, where and how you can be supported.
You may learn that you need to ask for help, visit a doctor, seek treatment or take medication and that is ok.
In fact, getting help as early as possible and looking after your own mental health as a parent will positively impact the quality of life for both you and your baby, helping build resilience in you both.
To read more about how to support the mental health of you and your baby you can read or download our guide here
AWARE offers education programmes to new and expectant parents
To find out more about these programmes, click on the buttons below!
A Children’s Mental Health Poetry Competition from AWARE NI!
What is Express Yourself?
'Express Yourself' is a mental health poetry competition brought to you by AWARE NI. The purpose of this competition is to encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings through the fun and creative medium of poetry. We hope it will start conversations about mental health in classrooms across the country. The competition is open to all P6 & P7 pupils in Northern Irish primary schools and each school can submit two entries.
What are the prizes?
Prizes include an AWARE NI Paws b mindfulness course for the winning school and £150/£100/£50 Amazon Gift Vouchers for the top 3 winners!
But that’s not all… this competition has a legacy…
The top 10 winning poems will be turned into a children’s mental health book featuring advice from AWARE NI and will be sent out to all partaking schools and community libraries. You've read that right - if you are in the top ten then you will be a published author! What an achievement!
How can my school take part?
We're asking school teachers and principals to register your school's interest by clicking here and following the registration instructions.
After registering for your school, you will be provided with a link to download the Express Yourself Poem Pack, with tips for introducing mental health in the classroom and fun activities for your students to complete!
*If you are a parent or carer, you can ask your child’s teacher to consider registering through this page*
Our friend, Isla McManus (@IslaLovesToSing), will be the campaign's ambassador, helping us to promote the competition, choosing the winning poems and attending the winning school to gift them with an incredible live performance!
Submissions are now open! (closing 14.03.25) Each school can submit two poems via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*This competition is open to Northern Ireland Primary school P6 & P7 pupils only*
