This page contains references to baby loss and other themes you may not be ready to read. If you’re aged 16-25, we can help you today.
Losing a baby at any age can leave you carrying heavy grief, broken hopes and emotions that are difficult to put into words. But, when you are a young woman experiencing this kind of grief for the first time you often feel like you need to hide it, leaving you feeling incredibly lonely.
In Teesside, the NHS is great for a multitude of things but young women who experience stillbirth, termination for medical reasons or neonatal loss are currently ineligible for NHS perinatal mental health support. That is why we created ‘Her Journey’, aimed at young women aged 16–25 around the Tees Valley area, so young women would have a place to be heard and a way to get support they need.
Types of Support You Can Receive
Because you don't have to go through this alone. That is why we have teamed up with the Pilgrim Trust to bring you these services.
Peer Support
The first six months after baby loss can be an incredibly vulnerable time. Whilst you may not be ready for counselling or formal support, you don't have to go through those early months alone. That is why offer peer support. Whether you need someone to talk to on the phone, a reason to get out the house, or would feel more comfortable for someone to come to you, we'll meet you where you are. Our peer support is informal, delivered by trained professionals with no pressure to talk about anything until you are ready.
Trauma-informed Counselling
This is a type of therapeutic framework that allows a therapist to work with you as a person rather than a singular type of counselling. Focusing on safety, trust and avoiding re-traumatisation to help you understand what happened, how this affects you today and how you can move forward.
Trauma Focused Therapies
This type of therapy helps you process painful memories and reduce PTSD. This includes frameworks such as EMDR or Narrative Exposure Therapy (whatever suits you best) so we can help you change the way the brain stores this trauma.
Group Based Support
Similar to Peer Support, our group based support offers shared connection on a slightly larger scale. Seeing others make progress inspires hope and keeps you feeling less lonely and safe. This also includes fun group based activities such as flower picking!
Who is ‘Her Journey’ for?
Our team know exactly what you’re going through because we have been there before.
That is why we are proud to give you this service. It is specifically for women aged 16-25 who have experienced any of the following in the past three years:
- Pregnancy loss including: miscarriage and termination for medical reasons (TFMR)
- Baby loss, including stillbirth and neonatal loss (where the loss occurred on the neonatal unit)
- A current high-risk pregnancy following previous loss/NICU stay and currently under fetal medicine care
- Termination of pregnancy
This service is funded by the Pilgrim Trust through its Young Women in Mind programme, a national initiative responding to the mental health crisis facing girls and young women.
The Reality of Mental Health for Young Women Aged 16–25
1 in 4
Young women experience a common mental health problem
2x
More likely to experience a probable mental health disorder
3 in 4
Mental health problems begin by age 24
0.7%
Of mental health and wellbeing grant funding went specifically to young women
Our 'Her Journey' Team
Leanne, Baby Loss Service Lead
As an experienced Perinatal and Baby Loss practitioner, our lovely Leanne will be your point of contact for baby loss support within 'Her Journey'. Leanne will provide you informal peer support during the early stages of loss and help you explore further therapeutic support when you feel ready.
Katie
Katie is part of our wider Her Journey team and is a qualified Specialist Peer Mentor and Child Development Practitioner. She brings lived experience of NICU alongside professional training in early years and developmental support.
Tammy
Tammy is part of our wider Her Journey team and is a Specialist Peer Mentor and Child Development Practitioner. She brings lived experience of NICU and SEND alongside specialist training in developmental play.
Lottie
Lottie is the CEO and Founder of Leo’s and works behind the scenes to help shape Her Journey. She brings lived experience of baby loss, NICU and pregnancy after loss alongside her work as a Nervous System Practitioner.
What Happens When You Make A Referral for Baby Loss Support?
This service is suited to women who:
- Feel able to engage in support
- Would benefit from relational peer support or therapeutic support
- Do not currently require crisis intervention
- Want specific support related to pregnancy loss, TFMR, baby loss, neonatal care, high risk pregnancy or termination of pregnancy.
*If a young woman requires more intensive or specialist support, alternative or additional services may be recommended.
Parents and young women between the ages of 16 and 25 can refer themselves for support using the parent referral form. GPs, healthcare professionals and other professionals can make a referral using this form where appropriate.
If you’re referring someone else, we may need to contact the parent or the young woman directly before support can begin. We’ll always approach this with care and respect, taking the time to understand what they’ve been through and what they feel they need.
This service does not provide crisis interventions, emergency mental health support, diagnostic assessments, statutory mental health services, or risk management services.
Our current referral services support families across Tees Valley including Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Darlington.
Her Journey is available to young women aged 16–25 at the time of referral, while other Leo’s neonatal support is available to eligible families within the relevant funding areas.
You don’t need to know exactly what support you need before making a referral. If you’re unsure whether you or someone you’re referring is eligible, you can still get in touch with the Leo’s team. We can talk through your circumstances, explain the options available and help you find the support that feels right for you.
You may also find it helpful to explore our community support, pregnancy after loss support or trauma-informed therapies to learn more about the different ways we can support you and your family.
Making a referral is the first step towards getting the right support for you or someone you care about. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
Once you have submitted a referral, Leanne (our Baby Loss support lead within ‘Her Journey’) will carefully review the information you have provided us then we will get in touch with you to talk through your referral and explain what happens next.
We’ll take the time to understand what you’ve been through, how you’re feeling and what kind of support might be helpful. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and talk openly about what you need.
The Stories of Families Who Have Walked This Journey
Our parent stories share the experiences of families who have navigated premature birth, pregnancy after loss, the NICU and baby loss, offering you hope, reassurance and the comfort of knowing that others have walked the same path as you.
Okay, but what happens to me after the programme finishes?
There is no deadline for grief, and no point where you’re expected to be “better”. When your time with Her Journey ends, you won’t be left to figure things out alone. We’ll help you understand what comes next, find ongoing support if you need it, and make sure you have somewhere to turn.
More Support Available
We also have other branches of support within 'Her Journey' that may apply to you.
Pregnancy After Loss
Support for you women aged 16-25 that are currently navigating the fear, uncertainty and emotions that can come with pregnancy after experiencing a previous loss.
More InformationNICU Support
If you have a baby in the NICU, we can help with a variety of things such as peer support, group support or you could take advantage of our advocacy work.
More InformationYour Voice Matters
Her Journey is shaped with young women, not just for them. As more women access our support, we want to hear what you need, what would help, and what you’d like to see next! Whether that is from different groups or activities, we want to hear what you have to say