Latnem calls on volunteers in bid to support mums
When Gill Skene had her first child, she realised there was a lack of support within communities and set about to change it. What started off as mums meeting for a chat has evolved to become LATNEM. The charity helps hundreds of mums every year, both across the North-east and beyond. Gill explained why their work is so invaluable, and what you can do to help.
“Navigating mental health challenges during motherhood can feel isolating, but no mum has to walk that path alone. With recent MBRRACE reports highlighting that suicide remains the leading cause of direct maternal death in the year after pregnancy, supporting maternal mental health is more important than ever. LATNEM Peer Support is a dedicated mental health peer support service created by and for mums. Based in Aberdeenshire, LATNEM hosts support groups across Grampian and offers a virtual support service that connects mums across the whole of Scotland.
We also run special events like crochet or painting ‘crafternoons’ and baby yoga. Participants find kindness, meaningful relationships, and practical ideas to help them make positive changes and move forward in their journey. Every service at LATNEM is completely free of charge, ensuring that support is accessible to anyone who needs it. To keep these vital services running and expanding, we are actively looking for compassionate volunteers to support local face-to-face meetings in Aberdeen, Elgin, Huntly, Inverurie and Peterhead – as well as hosting our online meetings on zoom. Full role specific training is provided to all volunteers, including opportunities to gain a recognised qualification such as Mental Health First Aid.”
If you are a mum with lived experience of mental ill health and are ready to use your experience and passion to support local mums, LATNEM would love to hear from you. For more information, email
gill@latnem.org
