OCEAN Mental Health Service East London offers specialist psychological treatment and support if you have moderate to severe mental health difficulties related to birth loss or birth trauma. It is for people who live or work in the City of London, Hackney, Newham or Tower Hamlets.
The service can support you with difficulties arising from:
- Pregnancy loss for any reason and at any time, including miscarriage, failed fertility treatment, termination or stillbirth
- Neonatal death (death up to 28 days after birth)
- Birth trauma that is not suitable for treatment by any other service
- Severe fear of childbirth due to previous loss or trauma, where no other service is suitable
Your care can combine psychological support, specialist midwifery support and support around reproductive health. You need to want and be ready to engage in psychological support. This is planned care and cannot provide crisis support.
East London NHS Foundation Trust runs the service in partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust and Maternity Mates. Appointments can be face to face or virtual. The team is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and all referrals are triaged daily by clinicians.
How to access: You can refer yourself using the East London self-referral form or by contacting the team by phone or email. Carers and family members can also refer you. Healthcare professionals can refer by email or by sending the Perinatal Mental Health Referral Form.