A Brighter Futures Family Hub has been set up in Thurrock to provide health, education and parenting support to families and, as part of the hub, EPUT’s (Essex Partnership University NHS Trust) Together with Baby service provides psychological support to parents who may struggle to build a positive relationship with their baby.
Brighter Futures Family Hubs support families with children ages 0 to 18 years-old, or up to 25 years-old for young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
This week is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, and our Together with Baby service is a specialist parent and infant mental health service designed to help parents better understand their baby’s emotional responses and communications, as well as strengthen the relationship between them.
Many parents find that they have not bonded with their baby in the way that they had hoped. Some may also have difficult feelings regarding the experience of parenting, which may feel confusing and uncomfortable. The Together with Baby service works with parents and their infants in the first 1001 days of their life, from conception to age two.
Dr Ellen Auty, Head of Service for Perinatal Psychology at EPUT, said “We are delighted to support parents and their babies in the Thurrock community, as part of the Brighter Futures Family Hub. The hub will provide essential information and support to families who need it most. Together with Baby supports crucial parent-infant interactions that underpin lifelong mental health. We help parents to give their babies the best start in life and help to improve family wellbeing.”
Minister for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, Dame Andrea Leadsom, recently joined Thurrock Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Deb Arnold, and parents and children at the Tilbury Family Hub, in March, to hear their stories and find out how the hubs support families.
The event coincided with the launch of Start for Life’s ‘If They Could Tell You’ campaign, which aims to support new parents as they nurture their bond with their babies to boost their future mental health and early childhood development.
Services including the midwifery clinic and parenting support groups and programmes were showcased by specialist staff at the hub during the visit.
