Shine!

Following the birth of my second baby I suffered with severe post natal depression. My recovery was slow and incredibly difficult not just for me, but for all who love me. It took more strength than I ever realised I had within me, and I knew one day I would reach back to help other mums on that traumatic road.

3 years ago I founded Shine, a support group focussing on perinatal mental health. During my recovery I created my own tool box of coping strategies, as well as a deep understanding on how important our mental health is, and felt that this knowledge and empathy would create a positive and nurturing environment. I was lucky to receive some funding from a local company to get started and Health Visitors were keen to refer mums into this new service, and so Shine was born!

Within Shine I offer 12 week courses covering a wide range of coping strategies and tasters in the hope that mums will leave Shine at the end of the course feeling more confident in coping with their anxiety and depression. Shine also has a wonderful creche of 3, meaning that our mums really do get some crucial “me time” and are able to absorb themselves in being creative. Working within creche ratio, we can support around 9 mums on each 12 week course.

Shine’s main focus is Art Therapy. I knew from experience how effective this can be having delved into creativity for distraction when feeling anxious myself. Local artists join us with amazing workshops to focus the minds of these mums. Activities such as mosaicking, felting, origami, print making (and so much more!) means that mums leave with something truly beautiful that they can feel very proud of. This boosts confidence and encourages mums to be creative at home. Often a Shine mum will come back and produce her own workshop for us when feeling better!

We also offer a “hands on” nutrition workshop with a local nutritionist, showing mums that what they eat really can make a difference to how they feel. Yoga and pilates workshops teach mums how to use the power of the breath to feel calm as well as gently strengthening and stretching. A local hypnotherapist speaks to the mums about how the brain works and how stress hormones are produced, and gives amazing advice on how to take steps to controlling those hormones using positive thought, mindfulness and relaxation. On a more physical level a wonderful massage therapist offers back massage and reflexology to mums which is hugely appreciated and valued.

The biggest thing Shine gives to these mums is each other. It is like watching the sun come out when introducing these mums as they realise they are no longer alone on this journey. The peer support gained at Shine works like magic, and deep friendships are formed. The groups of mums stay together well after the end of their course, and continue to support each other on their difficult journey. This is such a strengthening and empowering gift and a pleasure to behold every time.

Shine Mummies. I created a private facebook page of peer support for Shine mummies past, present and future. We currently have over 100 members! Mums value the opportunity to ask advice, vent when upset, share when feeling good, knowing there will be no judgement, only support and understanding

I now have two Shines running! Health Visitors, GPs, and midwives have seen for themselves the huge difference being made and refer struggling mums as and when they can. I have also applied for funding for a third Shine in Gloucestershire, and wait with baited breath. I truly feel that if there were more “Shines” dotted across the country, the effects of post natal depression could be reduced. Mums supporting mums, reaching back for more mums, becoming stronger. A large proportion of workload would be taken away from the NHS as GP and HV visits are reduced. I passionately want to help as many mums as I can reach to Shine once more.

I feel hugely proud of what we have achieved at Shine and that some positive has come from my own battle with Post Natal Depression. I will continue to fundraise tirelessly to keep Shine going into the future.