Support Group for Perinatal Mental Health Launched in Chiswick
Volunteer-led sessions are supported by PANDAS Foundation UK
The Chiswick group will meet at the Duck and Ball on Riverside Drive
September 1, 2025
A new, free peer-to-peer support group for parents and carers facing mental health challenges during pregnancy or after birth is being launched in Chiswick.
The first session is on Tuesday 9 September at Duck & Ball, Riverside Drive (W4 2SP). Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, running from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm, and are open to all local parents and carers—babies and young children included.
The group, led by trained volunteer Katie and supported by the national charity PANDAS Foundation UK, offers a safe, non-judgmental space where attendees can share their experiences and connect with others who truly understand the ups and downs of perinatal mental health. Katie draws on her own lived experience of postpartum anxiety and depression to guide discussions, supported by PANDAS’s professional signposting to local and national resources.
Perinatal mental health difficulties affect around one in five parents, and early community-based support is now an NHS and government priority. By providing timely emotional support in a relaxed riverside venue—far removed from clinical settings—the Chiswick group aims to reduce feelings of isolation, encourage sustained engagement with wider care plans, and ultimately lessen the need for more intensive interventions later on.
“We offer understanding, hope and practical information,” says Katie. “Parents can talk openly over tea and coffee, knowing they’re not alone in what they’re going through.”
Local community organisations—family services, children’s centres, GP practices, and nurseries—are being asked to help spread the word by displaying leaflets or sharing details in newsletters and on social media. Anyone wishing to order printed materials or template wording can contact the group at chiswickpandas@gmail.com.
PANDAS Foundation UK has supported families affected by perinatal mental health challenges since 2012 via a national helpline, email and text support, online forums, and more than 50 local peer groups across England. “Our mission is to ensure no parent or carer ever feels alone,” says PANDAS CEO Caroline Tallon. “Early, practical peer support can make all the difference.”
For more information, visit this link or follow @pandaschiswick on Instagram.
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