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Information about parents’ mental health

Having a premature baby or sick baby in a neonatal unit can have a huge impact on you. Find information and support in this section.

Mum and dad looking into incubator at baby

Dad in foreground looking away from camera towards Mum who is sitting holding and looking at her twins in her arms

How you might be feeling

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed is not unusual for parents on the neonatal unit. Find out more about common mental health challenges parents face when they…

Facing away from the camera, Dad puts arm around Mum in a caring way whilst looking at baby in an incubator surrounded by two health professionals

Getting support with your mental health

We know that many parents struggle with their mental health after having a premature baby or sick baby on the neonatal unit. Whatever you might be feeling, you are not…

Mum standing looking into incubator at her baby who is wearing an eye mask. She is reaching through the incubator to comfort her baby.

Is it common for parents to struggle with…

We often hear that parents can struggle with their mental health when they have had a baby in neonatal care. But how common is this? And what does research tell us?

Parent looking away from the camera being supported by a friend looking towards them

Tips for supporting others with their mental…

Supporting someone who has a premature or sick baby can be difficult. You might not always know what to do or say at what can be a very emotional and stressful time.…

Mum sitting down looking away from the camera reaching into the incubator with both hands, holding her baby and looking at eye level. A nurse is standing next to her looking into the incubator

Supporting parents’ mental health –…

It can be hard as a neonatal health professional to know how best to support parents who are struggling with their mental health. We spoke with Helen Aitchison,…

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