Making friends

[Zebrawhite]

Hi

Sorry to post so much lately, I am new and eager for help. I have been buddied up with some one for support by APP which is great, but no one in my area was available for face to face support (cambridgeshire).

Have any of you become friends with each other via APP? I would love to make some friends for mutual support who have been through similar experiences, but have struggled to find anyone locally.

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

Hi Zebrawhite

Admin will probably confirm, but there are Cafe groups all over the country. In person or on Zoom.

I live in South West London/Surrey borders and I meet up for coffee etc. with a friend I met through APP. We have other things in common, such as a love of art as well as our mutual experience of PP.

Good luck!

[Zebrawhite in reply to The_Wes_Anderson_Fan]

Thank you, unfortunately no cafe groups in my area. Nearest is London I think and that's a long journey. If anyone is not so far from Cambridgeshire and ever wants to meet though please let me know!

I'm hopefully going to the Thurs online group this week.

[Zebrawhite in reply to Zebrawhite]

I also love art and films

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer in reply to Zebrawhite]

Me again! Google 'Maternal Journal' - they have a branch in Cambridge! It's designed for mothers with an interest in art and struggling with their mental health. You will meet similar people. Should be easy to find it online, any problems - let me know x

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer in reply to Zebrawhite]

It might be worth travelling to the London in person meet when it's next on. I think quite a few people travel a good distance, so you never know.

[Zebrawhite in reply to The_Wes_Anderson_Fan]

Where is it based in London?

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer in reply to Zebrawhite]

Yes, South Bank Centre. Hopefully one of the partners can give you details x

Try asking Ellie

[JosephineFay in reply to Zebrawhite]

Hi there, Zebrawhite I'm based in Bedford and would love to meet up. I'll private message you.

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

Continuing on from my previous reply, I have another suggestion.I ran a Mother and Baby group for the NHS Mental Health Trust perinatal team. It was specifically for mothers receiving help from the mental health system. It was attended by women who were struggling with their mental health and motherhood for various reasons. PP is less common but I think these women would have a lot of empathy.

Maybe try asking your local perinatal mental health team or an organisation like Home Start. All of the women that I came across were very kind.

[yougotthis1 Volunteer]

Hi Zebrawhite ,

Just following on from The_Wes_Anderson_Fan it would definitely be worth asking about peer support from your local perinatal mental health team. I now work as a peer support worker in a perinatal team and have recently met with a couple of Mums who have had PP too and it’s been really lovely to meet them. Maybe someone in your team has experienced PP too, your CPN/ Consultant should be able to help if this is something you’d like to ask.

All the best,

Xx

[SammySeal]

Hi Zebrawhite

Yes, I made friends in real life with someone from this forum. I only intentionally met up with them once, but I also accidentally bumped into them in a cafe once, even though we were both miles from home! We text each other and are friends on the Finch app which I love for mutual support.

So glad you've found this forum and have been matched up with someone for support.

Sammy x