Your initial assessment appointment will either be a face or face or virtual appointment, using a video call. The details of the appointment and link to the virtual consultation will be sent to you by text message. This link is easy to follow and the video call can be accessed from most devices including laptop, PCs, tablets, and smart phones (as long as the device is connected to the internet and you use the Google Chrome web browser).
The appointment will be with a practitioner. This appointment will last about an hour and will give you the opportunity to discuss your current and past difficulties health, how you and your family are coping, and any worries you may have. We will explore how loss, pregnancy, or becoming a parent has affected your wellbeing.
Following assessment, you will receive a letter which outlines the details of the assessment and plan of care. It may be determined that the Lotus Maternal Mental Health Service is not the most suitable service for you; in these instances we will refer you to the most appropriate service and provide you with the necessary information.
We understand it can be a difficult time and for some people, talking about the past and future worries can feel daunting at first. We also understand that there are many reasons why people might worry about seeking help. Here are some of the barriers we know can stop people accessing support when they most need it:
- thinking that your worries and concerns are not important enough to ask for help
- thinking that seeking help will reflect badly on your ability to parent
- thinking that talking about how you are feeling will make you feel worse
- thinking that admitting you are struggling will make others assume that you do not love or enjoy your baby enough
We would like to assure all people who use the service that we are here to help and support you. Struggling with emotions around pregnancy or loss can happen to anyone and it does not reflect badly on you as a person or a parent. We are here to help with the struggles experienced by many people, to ensure that you can feel as well as possible and enjoy life.
