Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support Services for Parents and Male Caregivers

Sheffield City Council is recommissioning two perinatal mental health peer support services as part of the national Best Start in Life and Healthy Babies Programme. Lot 1 provides peer support for parents experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties including anxiety, low mood, and stress, with a focus on supporting healthy parent-infant relationships. Lot 2 specifically targets new and expectant fathers and male caregivers, addressing identified gaps in support during the perinatal period. Both services build on three years of successful delivery and aim to provide early, accessible, and relationship-based emotional wellbeing support. The services emphasize sensitive and attuned caregiving, positive parent-infant relationships, and good mental health outcomes for families. Suppliers should have experience delivering peer support programmes and engaging with parents and male caregivers in the perinatal period.