The Cedar House Support Group is for women who are experiencing postnatal depression. The group provides a safe and supportive environment where mothers can get together with others who may be feeling similar to themselves. This helps their recovery by normalising feelings and reducing the sense of isolation that postntal depression can bring, (see comments below)

The group is facilitated by a trained and very experienced counsellor and a retired health visitor:

Liz Wise is a specialist PND counsellor who has been supporting mothers and facilitating  support groups for fifteen years. Having had severe PND after both her children she knows what a difference groups like this can make to a mother’s recovery. Liz is also the PND support coordinator for the National Childbirth Trust, sits on the commitee for the Association for Postnatal Illness and has produced the DVD, Understanding Postnatal Depression.

Barbara Lambert is a retired local health visitor who has been supporting mothers over a long period of her practice and realises the enormous benefits of support groups.

The group runs from 10am to 12pm every Tuesday, term time only, at St John's Centre, Merrow, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7AA  It is informal, confidential and a great support for the mothers. A babysitting facility is provided in the same building. There is ample free parking.

• This group helped me so much by letting me talk about my feelings without being judged, in a very relaxed informal setting.
• The group has allowed me to feel 'normal' again, get my confidence back and really start to enjoy my life and baby.
• This has helped me understand that the feelings I have had are very common, normal and that I'm not a bad mother.
• I never ever thought that by sitting with people that I didn't know for two hours each week would help me get better, but it certainly has and I'm made some great friends too!
• I think the fact that the counsellor had had postnatal depression was really helpful, she could really understand and empathise with what we were all going through and feeling.
• The group probably stopped me from going 'mad' and allowed me to gain perspective on my situation.
• This group is brilliant and just fantastic that it is led by someone who has experienced what we are going through, not judged and very respectful of any comments made.
• This group has saved my life and given me a chance to be with my boys.