From Struggle to Strength: A Journey Through Maternal Mental Health Support

By CPSL Mind Perinatal Service Manager, Jen Anker

Introduction

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a time to shine a light on the reality that many mums face, but few speak openly about – the emotional and mental struggles that can come with pregnancy, birth and beyond. At CPSL Mind, we know how powerful it can be to hear from someone who’s been there. That’s why we’re sharing the story of someone who accessed our perinatal support services, later became a volunteer, and now leads the very team that helped her when she needed it most.

The Journey

“Becoming a mum can be one of life’s most beautiful experiences – but for many of us, it’s also one of the most emotionally challenging. In early 2018, just three months after the birth of my youngest son, I found myself in a dark place. I felt like I was failing as a mum. My mood was incredibly low, and I had thoughts that maybe my children would be better off without me.

Thankfully, I was supported by a compassionate health visitor who introduced me to CPSL Mind’s perinatal support. Although she had never referred anyone before, she had a good feeling it might be just what I needed. I agreed to the referral, and it became a turning point in my life.

Really quickly after the referral, I heard from the team, and from the first conversation with them, I felt heard and supported. They talked to me about what I was going through and soon after, I attended the Connecting Mums course. I was nervous, but the experience was incredibly positive – I met other mums who understood how I felt, and I’m still in contact with some of them seven years later. The sense of connection and shared understanding was priceless.

That first group lit a spark in me. I had struggled with my mental health since my teenage years but had never invested in my own wellbeing. I then asked to attend the Mums Matter course, and attending it was a huge milestone and pushed me out of my comfort zone – especially as it was the first time I left my baby in the crèche provided. That space allowed me to focus on myself and begin to believe I was a good mum, without needing to be perfect.

Alongside the groups, the weekly check-in calls were a lifeline. They gave me a safe space to vent and be honest – something I didn’t feel I had elsewhere.

By the end of the Mums Matter course, I knew this service had changed my life. I wanted to give something back. When the team asked if I’d consider volunteering, I said yes – something I hadn’t imagined myself doing before.

At the same time, a new perinatal peer support group was being created – a space for mums to attend following the courses to give them a way to remain connected to each other as well as supporting with reminding them to look after their wellbeing. I began attending as a mum while completing the process to become a volunteer, and soon, I was helping to run that very group. I volunteered for a year starting in autumn 2018, and that year laid the foundation for what came next.

In late 2019, a part-time Project Worker role opened within the Perinatal Team. I had really enjoyed my role as a volunteer, and I wanted to further this. I was passionate about perinatal mental health because of my own journey and felt that I could make a real difference to other people’s lives. I had spent the previous five years as a stay-at-home mum, and I was ready to step into something new. I applied, and I got the job!

Since then, I’ve led and delivered Connecting Mums and Mums Matter courses, supported peer groups, and helped shape the service during the challenges of the pandemic. From leading online support sessions and one-to-one calls during COVID to developing a new service specifically for Muslim mums, I’ve found both passion and purpose in this work.

Today, I am proud to be the Perinatal Service Manager for CPSL Mind – a role I’ve held since April 2023. It’s a privilege to now influence how we reach and support parents during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. My journey from service user to manager gives me a deep appreciation for what our team does and why it matters. This service, and the support I was given, really changed my life and because of that, I remain passionate about perinatal mental health. I have experienced how dark and lonely it can get but I have also experienced that, with the right support, you can move forward from this.

This week, during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, I want to say to every mum who feels overwhelmed, anxious, or lost: you are not alone, and there is help. I’ve been there, and I know how it can feel. But I also know that things can and do get better.

I work with a truly great team, with a common passion of supporting new parents. As manager, I get oversight of the impact our team makes and feel so proud when I see feedback. To read the words “this changed my life” or “I’ve made friends for life” from the mums we’ve supported – it’s the reason I do what I do, and why I’ll continue championing perinatal mental health every day.”

Find Out More

If you or someone you know could benefit from our Perinatal Services, or if you’d like to learn more about how we support parents across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire, please visit Supporting You Through Parenthood | CPSL Mind

You’ll find details on our courses, peer support groups, and how to get involved. No one should have to go through this journey alone – and with CPSL Mind, you don’t have to.