Since 2008 the Elpitha group has been facilitated by two health visitors (Helen and Pat) with the support of the Home-Start charity.  The June-July group 2016 was the first group to be run independently by Home-Start Co-ordinators and volunteers, following a roll out training held earlier in the year and provided by Helen and Pat.  The results speak for themselves and serve as evidence to prove that the group may be run successfully, with access to the appropriate material and with a compassionate approach, by the Home-Start charity.

The following are extracts from an open evaluation questionnaire that provides qualitative feedback for the group: 

I came to this Support Group because …

I was feeling low and cried lots.

I wanted to make friends who were in the same situation as I was.

I have struggled with depression for over two years with no improvement.

I was feeling really lost, confused and low. I didn’t understand what post-natal depression was.

The best things about coming were …

Meeting new people in the same situation and realising it wasn’t just me

Meeting people who I can relate to, actually getting into the real world and having a reason to get up, get dressed and realising I am not on my own. Understanding myself and how to work with my depression to get better.

How friendly everyone was and being completely understood and not being judged meant I would say what I was feeling and explain how to fix it.

The most difficult things were …

Opening up about how I felt and admitting things. Seeing people get emotional.

Admitting I need help, realising my mental state and stepping out of denial.

Seeing the problems written out on the board and facing them made them real but it was also a good thing because I probably wouldn’t have faced it without the group.

Coming to the course has helped me to …

Be more confident to get up and out with the kids.

Deal with my problems and evaluate how to react to certain situations.

Find myself again and learning strategies to help me get better and social.

Manage and understand my emotions, have a little more faith in myself and not be too hard on myself.

I would have liked to have done more about …

I felt we did everything, I just wish the course ran over more weeks.

For the next course it would be better if …

It was longer as just when I feel improvement, routine and progression we’ve finished. I will miss it.

Now the course is finishing I will …

Read my smiley book, be better on myself.

Take everything on board and putting into practice what I have learnt and enjoy life!

Now look forward to the rest of my life and now have the confidence to apply for university!

Apply all the things I have learnt and accept help to make myself better for me and my kids.

What do you think about the size of the group?

Perfect size.

Great as I do find big groups uncomfortable, this has been amazing.

It’s the perfect size as we can all be heard, any more and I don’t think we would fit it all in.

The group size (7) was good I was expecting (12) in the group maybe 12 would be too many

I felt that the crèche was ……

Good, made my little boy more confident.

Fantastic, baby had a lovely time being fussed over; staff have been lovely and supportive.

Great my child loved it, was very excited about coming and comfortable there, considering she hates being separated.

Helpful to my child and they made me feel relaxed, my son was always happy.

Is there anything else you would like to say? …

Was a really brilliant class, really enjoyed. Definitely wish it continued, made me feel like I wasn’t on my own.

The ladies who run the group are amazing! Truly understand and I think they work so well with the group and a big reason I feel I have progressed.

This group has helped me more than any GP or doctor could. I feel like I have learnt lessons for life that I would apply and even offer to others. It’s the best thing I did for my post-natal depression and I am so happy that I got chosen to come.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

Notes:

1) In the case of client 5, at times the group may help clients to open up previously suppressed emotions and thereby serves to empower them to seek further counselling on a one to one basis.

2) Data above shown graphically below...