TWO mums have opened up about how an arts therapy group helped them to combat postnatal depression.

Hannah Connick, from Bewsey, and Rachael Penn, from Orford, have bravely shared their experiences in the hope of helping other mums who are struggling.

NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group recently commissioned a support programme called Time for Me.

The group aims to give mums who may be experiencing postnatal anxiety or depression an opportunity to talk through any concerns they may have with a health professional.

As well as offering the chance for women to meet others mums with similar concerns, it also provides the opportunity to be creative through origami, poetry, screen printing and song writing.

Graphic designer Hannah, 31, is one of the mums to have benefitted from the programme after her son Theodore was born in May 2016. 

She said: “Meeting other mums who were in the same situation definitely helped me.

“It made me feel less isolated and lonely.  

“I had been to baby groups before but always felt like other mums were looking at me like I was doing something wrong with my baby or they knew that something was wrong with me.

"The Time for Me group was a judgement free group where we could openly talk about any issues we had, get help and advice from each other while also just doing something fun.

“Even though I am a graphic designer, I felt like I had lost my creativity after having my baby.  I was worried how that was going to affect me when I went back to work.  

“Time for Me brought my creativity back and also helped me get prepared for going back to work.

“It also helped me make sure I made time to do creative things at home as a form of mindfulness.”

Time for Me has also helped 37-year-old Rachael, who is a mum to Cassidy, after she started to feel like a prisoner in her own home as she felt anxious about leaving the house.

But now she believes the group has helped to turn her life around.

She said: “To mums who are experiencing postnatal depression I’d say don’t feel worried to speak out, ask for help or get someone to take you to the children’s centre.

“You may feel you are alone, but trust me you aren’t and you aren’t a bad mummy at all even though you may think it.

“Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of it just proves you are an amazing mummy to want to make yours and your child’s life better.

“Honestly, you will have such a different outlook on life.”

Steve Tatham, lead commissioner for Children, Maternity and Women at NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Time for Me has been positively received, with most mums who attend making significant progress towards recovery.

“Due to the success of this service, Warrington CCG is exploring how we can use our resources to maintain this offer to mums and babies going forward.”