Parent mental health

28 guides · Mental health

Looking after a baby is a lot, and your mind matters as much as your body. These guides cover the baby blues, postnatal depression and anxiety, the difficult feelings no one warns you about, and the many ways to get support. You are not alone, and asking for help is a strength.

Guides in this section

• Anxiety in pregnancy: when worry feels like too much. Why pregnancy amplifies anxiety, what intrusive thoughts and scan anxiety actually look like, and what genuinely helps, includi...
• Baby blues: what they are and how they differ from postnatal depression. What the baby blues are, when they happen, how long they last, and how to tell them apart from postnatal depression.
• Birth trauma and PTSD after birth: recognising it and finding support. Birth trauma is more common than people realise.
• Body image after having a baby: navigating a body that feels unfamiliar. Your body looks and feels different after having a baby.
• Intrusive thoughts in new parents: why they happen and what to do. Up to 90% of new parents experience intrusive thoughts.
• Matrescence: the identity shift that comes with becoming a mother. Matrescence is the profound transformation of becoming a mother.
• Mental health in pregnancy: anxiety, depression and getting help. Why mental health conditions are common in pregnancy, what the signs are and how to access NHS support.
• Mindfulness in pregnancy: practical techniques that actually help. Mindfulness during pregnancy can reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing.
• Mum guilt: why you feel it, why it lies, and what to do with it. Almost every parent carries mum guilt.
• Parental burnout: signs you are running on empty and how to recover. Parental burnout is real and increasingly well-researched.
• Partner and paternal postnatal depression: what it looks like. How postnatal depression affects partners and fathers, what the signs are, and where to get support.
• Paternal postnatal depression: how it affects fathers and how to get help. Paternal postnatal depression affects around 1 in 10 new fathers.
• Perinatal mental health: the full picture from pregnancy to the first year. Perinatal mental health covers everything from baby blues to postnatal psychosis.
• Postnatal anxiety: signs, symptoms and where to get help. Postnatal anxiety is common after birth.
• Postnatal depression support: resources and when to seek help. Postnatal depression affects around 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 fathers.
• Postnatal depression: recognising it and getting help. Postnatal depression affects about 1 in 10 new mothers and many fathers too.
• Postnatal depression: recognising the signs and finding support. Learn to recognise the signs of postnatal depression, how it differs from baby blues, and where to find help including the Edin...
• Postnatal depression: recognising the signs and finding support. Postnatal depression affects around 1 in 10 new mothers and is fully treatable.
• Postnatal depression: recognising the signs and finding support. Postnatal depression affects around 1 in 7 mothers.
• Postnatal depression: screening, symptoms and getting support. Everything parents need to know about postnatal depression, including the Edinburgh Scale, the 6-week screening appointment, tr...
• Postnatal depression: signs, symptoms and where to get help. Recognising postnatal depression, understanding the difference from baby blues, and knowing where to get help.
• Postnatal psychosis: signs to recognise and why it is a medical emergency. Postnatal psychosis is rare but serious.
• Postpartum rage. Postpartum rage, intense anger and irritability after birth, is common and often a sign of postnatal depression.
• Preparing emotionally for birth: managing fear, uncertainty and expectations. Fear of birth is common and valid.
• Self-care for new parents: why it matters and simple steps. Why looking after yourself matters when you have a new baby, and practical NHS-grounded steps that fit into a sleep-deprived life.
• Separation anxiety in babies. Separation anxiety in babies typically peaks between 8 and 14 months.
• Separation anxiety in babies: when it starts and what helps. Separation anxiety is normal and common in babies from around 6 months.
• Therapy options for postnatal mental health: what is available and how to access it. From CBT to EMDR to peer support, there are many effective options for postnatal mental health.

Common questions

What is the difference between the baby blues and postnatal depression?

The baby blues are common in the first two weeks, with tearfulness and mood swings that pass on their own. If low mood, anxiety or hopelessness lasts beyond two weeks or feels overwhelming, it may be postnatal depression, which is treatable with the right support.

Is it normal to feel anxious or angry as a new parent?

Yes. Anxiety, intrusive thoughts and even rage are common and do not make you a bad parent. If these feelings are frequent, frightening or getting in the way of daily life, talk to your GP or health visitor.

When should I reach out for help?

Reach out any time you are struggling, you do not need to wait for a crisis. Speak to your GP, health visitor or a helpline if low mood, anxiety or scary thoughts persist, and seek urgent help if you ever feel unsafe.

Can dads and partners get postnatal depression too?

Yes. Partners can experience depression and anxiety after a baby arrives. The same support helps, and getting it early is good for the whole family.