Essential resources supporting families and practitioners through pregnancy, birth, and the first two years—when foundations for lifelong mental health and development are built.
First 1001 Days & Perinatal Mental Health
Essential Resources for Family Hub Practitioners
Focused on the critical period from conception to age 2 and parental mental health
Core Start for Life Policy & Guidance
Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 Critical Days (March 2021)
- The foundational Early Years Healthy Development Review report
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days
Start for Life Thematic Review (May 2024)
- Implementation updates and workforce development focus
- Start For Life services: thematic review - GOV.UK
Establishing Your Parent and Carer Panel Guidance
- Involving families with experience of the first 1001 days
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/establishing-your-parent-and-carer-panel
Perinatal Mental Health: NHS & Clinical
National NHS Services
NHS England Perinatal Mental Health Programme
- Service specifications and pathways
- Community and specialist provision
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/perinatal/
National Best Start in Life Website
- Trusted NHS advice for families on mental health in pregnancy and postpartum
- https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life
Assessment & Screening Tools
Whooley Questions
- Brief depression screening for pregnancy/postpartum
- Two-question tool used in routine care
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
- Validated screening tool for perinatal depression
- Available through NHS and professional bodies
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-2 / GAD-7)
- Brief anxiety screening tools
- Used in perinatal pathways
Maternal Perinatal Mental Health Organizations
Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA)
- Campaign and information organisation
- Everyone's Business: Landmark report on costs and impact of perinatal mental illness
- Resources on recognising and supporting maternal mental health
- https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org
PANDAS Foundation (Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support)
- Support for women and families
- Helpline: 0808 196 4382
- Peer support groups and online support
- https://pandasfoundation.org.uk
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
- Support for women who experience postpartum psychosis
- Peer support and recovery information
- https://www.app-network.org
Birth Trauma Association
- Support for birth trauma and birth-related PTSD
- Resources for recognising and responding to trauma
- https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Make Birth Better
- Campaign focused on birth trauma and maternal mental health
- Training and resources for professionals
- https://www.makebirthbetter.org
Mind: Perinatal Mental Health
- Information on mental health during pregnancy and after birth
- Understanding different conditions
- https://www.mind.org.uk
Paternal & Partner Perinatal Mental Health
PANDAS Foundation: Support for Partners
- Resources specifically for partners experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties
- https://pandasfoundation.org.uk
Fathers Reaching Out
- Father-inclusive practice guidance
- Training for professionals
- https://www.fathersreachingoutuk.com
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
- Mental health support for men
- Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight daily)
- https://www.thecalmzone.net
Home-Start: Dads Matter
- Practical support and engagement with fathers
- https://www.home-start.org.uk
Parent-Infant Relationship & Bonding
Parent-Infant Foundation
- Implementation Toolkit: Setting up parent-infant relationship teams
- Evidence base on parent-infant relationships
- Training and service development guidance
- https://parentinfantfoundation.org.uk
Association for Infant Mental Health (AiMH-UK)
- Professional organisation for infant mental health
- Getting Started: Perinatal Treatment Guide for families
- Resources on attachment and early relationships
- Standards and training
- Search: "AiMH UK" or visit https://aimh.org.uk
1001 Critical Days Movement
- Provide grants for charities and research, as well as advocating for best practice around the world
- Parent-infant relationship focus
Early Years Charity | 1001 Critical Days Foundation
NSPCC: Pregnancy and First Year
- Understanding parent-infant attachment
- Resources on bonding and early relationships
- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk
Integrated Maternity Care
Better Births: NHS Maternity Transformation Programme
- Continuity of carer models
- Personalized care and safety
- Links to perinatal mental health pathways
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/mat-transformation/
Health Inequalities in Perinatal Period
Marmot Review: Build Back Fairer
- COVID-19 impact on health inequalities
- Implications for perinatal period
- https://www.health.org.uk/publications/build-back-fairer-the-covid-19-marmot-review
Birthrights
- Human rights in pregnancy and childbirth
- Addressing discrimination and inequalities
- https://www.birthrights.org.uk
Infant Feeding & Mental Health
UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
- Supporting infant feeding and responsive care
- Relationship between feeding and mental health
- Training on supporting feeding decisions
- https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/
Breastfeeding and Mental Health Resources
- National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
- Support when breastfeeding is challenging
- https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
Feeding Matters (UNICEF)
- Understanding pressure and guilt around feeding
- Supporting parental wellbeing alongside feeding goals
Bereavement & Loss in First 1001 Days
Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity)
- Support for bereaved parents
- Impact on mental health and subsequent pregnancies
- Training for professionals
- Helpline: 0808 164 3332
- https://www.sands.org.uk
Miscarriage Association
- Support after pregnancy loss
- Mental health impact
- Helpline: 01924 200799
- https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Tommy's
- Pregnancy loss support and research
- Rainbow clinic model for subsequent pregnancies
- https://www.tommys.org
Child Bereavement UK
- Supporting families after infant death
- https://www.childbereavementuk.org
Data & Monitoring
Child and Maternal Health Intelligence Network (OHID)
- Population data on perinatal mental health
- Maternal mental health indicators
- Child and maternal health statistics - GOV.UK
Public Health Profiles (Fingertips)
- Local data on maternal mental health, birth outcomes
- First 1001 days indicators
- https://fingertips.phe.org.uk
National Centre for Family Hubs Resources
NCFH Case Study Library
- Searchable examples of Start for Life transformation
- Parent-infant mental health service models
- https://www.nationalcentreforfamilyhubs.org.uk