Finding Help

Crisis / urgent support

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please see below suggestions on who to contact:

  • Your local GP surgery
  • Visit your local A&E
  • Contact your Crisis team if you have contact with services already
  • Call 999
  • Contact The Samaritans

Tel: 116 123 (this is a free 24 hour telephone number and will not appear on the phone bill)
Web: www.samaritans.org
Email: jo@samaritans.org

  • Contact Shout – Shout is a free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support. If you are struggling to cope and need to talk, there are Shout Volunteers trained ready to help. To start a conversation, text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258

If you suspect you are suffering from perinatal OCD it is important to receive a diagnosis as this will help with accessing the right treatment for your recovery. OCD is a very treatable condition – your first step is to see your GP. The recommended treatment is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and/or medication. See section ‘About Perinatal OCD’ for further details.

Clinical support:

Local support

  • Seek out a referral (via your GP) for perinatal mental health services. These services provide support during the antenatal and postnatal period, read more here
  • Click here for a self-referral for Talking Therapies

Dedicated Perinatal OCD Service – The Maudsley Hospital London

The Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) is both a local and a national specialist service for obsessive-compulsive disorder and can offer specialised CBT treatment for OCD with parents from pregnancy to three years postnatal. .

To discuss potential referrals, or if you have any queries about the service please email CADAT below:

Email: CADAT@slam.nhs.uk

Referrals can be made via the website: https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/centre-for-anxiety-disorders-and-trauma-112/

Mother and Baby Units

Sometimes a mum needs to receive some in-patient psychiatric care and across the UK there are dedicated Mother and Baby Units (MBU) which can provide (subject to availability) treatment whilst mum and baby stay together.

Click here to watch a short video which describes the Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit in the East London NHS Foundation Trust. This footage clearly defines what to expect when you spend time in a MBU and how it’s sole purpose is to help mum through mental health recovery.

For a list of Mother and Baby Units across the United Kingdom please click here to view the MMHA Everyone’s Business Campaign map page.

Choice of therapist

 

Some people choose not to wait for a CBT trained therapist on the National Health Service. If that is the case make sure that the therapist is accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). This can be checked by using the ‘Find a Therapist’ register on their website (www.babcp.com)

We are pleased to introduce Blake and his team of highly qualified CBT therapists who over many years have treated individuals with perinatal OCD: https://www.londonpsychologist.co.uk/

We first met Blake almost twenty years ago at an OCD conference, and since then have remained in contact with him through our shared commitment to support those affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. Blake is a valued member of our Scientific Advisory Panel and brings a wealth of knowledge and clinical expertise to our charity.

When individuals with perinatal OCD are seeking private therapy, we have signposted them to Blake and his team. They are experienced, up to date with evidenced based approaches, and receive regular supervision to ensure high standards of OCD care.

Please note that, in signposting individuals to any professional, we cannot give any recommendation as to suitability and we accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from professional interactions.

 

Online patient information from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provide online patient information for both OCD and antenatal and postnatal mental health services:

NICE OCD patient information: click here

NICE Antenatal and postnatal mental health patient information click here

Peer support

OCD Action

OCD Action’s helpline operates between 9.30-5 Monday to Friday and volunteers are also able to call people back during the evenings. If when calling you are unable to get through, please leave a message and a volunteer will call you back as soon as possible.

You can contact the helpline on 0300 636 5478 or email support@ocdaction.org.uk

Perinatal OCD Zoom Support Group Contact details:

OCD Action’s ‘Always Better Together’ Project run a Perinatal support group. This takes places monthly on the second Tuesday of the month, at 7pm.

 

For further details please click here and/or contact sign-up@ebtsupportgroups.co.uk

 

Recovery is not easy, but it is possible and please take comfort in reading personal stories here on the Maternal OCD site