Top tips

Speak Up

Because shame hates it when we tell our story. It can’t survive being shared. So start speaking with your partner, friends, family and colleagues. Speak with your GP and seek professional support.  

Consider different options

We’ve created an extensive page on NICE recommended treatment options for trauma and other useful tools here. Please have a look to see what might work for you. With that, always keep the following in mind:

• Choose someone you trust. For your recovery make sure you find a therapist you feel comfortable with. Someone you feel safe with and trust. If not, don’t hesitate to look for someone else.

• Consider going private. If you’re facing long waiting lists, perhaps go and look for a private therapist. This can be a large financial commitment but many therapists will offer reduced rates.

• Go for evidence-based, qualified and registered. Check that your therapist is properly qualified and registered. There are loads of different treatment options and not all of them have proven to be effective. We highly recommend going for an evidence-based treatment. You can always reach out to us if you’d like our feedback on a treatment option.

• You are unique. Your experience is yours and your healing will be too. This means you need a bespoke treatment plan that suits you (and a therapist who understands that).

Check out these resources

We’ve listed some resources that we think are helpful. Please note, they are not maternity specific.

• The Royal College of Midwives have created a document on managing work-related stress.

• The Midwives’ Haven. The Association of Radical Midwives offer support to their members in times of trouble.

• All4Maternity. An online platform to support, develop and nurture every midwife and maternity worker.

• Doc Health. A confidential, not for profit, psychotherapeutic consultation service for all doctors. 

• Sick Doctors Trust. Support and help for doctors and medical students who have recovered from addiction.

• Second Victim Support offer resources for healthcare professionals affected by vicarious trauma.

• You okay, doc? You okay, nurse? support doctors’, nurses, midwives, students and health care workers’ mental health and wellbeing

• Royal College of Anaesthetists have a wide-reaching list of mental wellbeing support 

• BMA Counselling and Peer Support. The BMA (British Medical Association) provide confidential nationwide telephone support for doctors. You can talk to a trained counsellor or doctor advisor about issues such as depression, stress, bullying and substance abuse.

• The Doctors’ Support Network. Peer support for doctors and medical students with mental health concerns.

• NHS Practitioner Health Programme. Free, confidential NHS service for medical professionals across England with mental illness and addiction problems, who are working or looking to return to clinical practice.

• Healing the healer A dramatic new documentary film that exposes the painful impact on clinicians when patient care goes wrong. Watch the trailer here.

Practice self-care

With self-care you learn how to nurture yourself so you can boost your wellbeing, resilience and maximise your compassionate care. It can be as simple as dotting ‘micro moments of nourishment’ through your day. Read more about it here.

If you’re a professional and you want to know what you can do to prevent birth trauma and vicarious trauma in your practice or work setting, please go to our training page here.