Waterside ‘Minding Mum Social Café’ celebrates Maternal Mental Health Week
The Minding Mum Social Café kicked off Awareness Week with a morning of pampering, play, and vital peer support at Foyle Arena
Minding Mum celebrated the start of Maternal Mental Health Week on Thursday morning with a Social Café for Mums at the Waterside’s Foyle Arena.
Minding Mum is a maternal health programme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund NI and based within the Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership.
The service offers support for pregnant women and new mums with babies up to 12 months, supporting their health and wellbeing. Some of the services on offer include social cafes, counselling, therapies, peer support, walking groups, pre and postnatal exercise classes and physio support.
Thursday’s event was organised by Minding Mum staff Christine McBride and Kathy Mullan.
Some of the day’s highlights included a soft-play ‘Baby Corner’ by LegenDerry Events, craft tables and mums were even treated to massage and reflexology. There was also an opportunity to take home a framed mum and baby photo with the Walled City Photobooth.
Included in Thursday’s proceedings were information stalls from health visitors, breastfeeding support, Henry Project, Physiotherapists, Foyle Women’s Aid, Parentline, Aware NI, Foyle Women’s Aid, Foyle Network Foundation, Rapid NI and Action for Children-Sure Start.
Speaking after Thursday’s event, Project Manager Christine McBride said she was delighted with the turnout throughout the day and the overall Minding Mum project over the past five years. It’s understood the current funding finishes later this year.
‘We are delighted to kick off this year’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week celebrations with our Minding Mum Social Café. Events like these are so important in bringing mums together, encouraging peer support and reducing social isolation.’
Ms. McBride concluded by thanking the funders – The National Lottery Community Fund, for their continued support over the last number of years and to all those who helped make the day’s activities such a success.
The next big event as part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week celebrations will be held on Wednesday, May 6th with the ‘One Big Walk In The Park’ event being held at St. Columb’s Park with a starting time of 10.30am. All welcome.