A ‘little red post box’ has been put up in Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery and Museum for mothers to write words of encouragement to new mums who might be struggling with loneliness or post-natal depression.
The post box is part of a national campaign set up by the experience gift company, Red Letter Days, in collaboration with PANDAS, a maternal mental health charity, with the aim to “support and empower new mums who might be feeling isolated in the early days of motherhood”.
The scheme is a mums-to-mums initiative, that will consist of women writing kind words, sharing their family stories and encouraging others through letters. The messages will be kept in the red post boxes and then distributed on Mother’s Day to those who are finding it difficult to cope.
Jessica Farmery, PR assistant for the campaign, told JMU Journalism: “Speaking to struggling mothers, we found that the support from other people is important, and having people to lean on is also important.”
YouTube: Aiofe Monahan
The aim is to raise money and awareness for perinatal mental health. Alongside this, Red Letter Days will be donating 20% of sales from selected gifts to Pandas between March 9th-22nd. The letters can be dropped off at any of the red post boxes across the country or they can be sent directly to Red Letter Days.
With one in five new mother said to experience pre or post-natal mental health problems, campaigners believe the issue needs further awareness.
Annie Belasco, Head of the PANDAS charity, said: “It’s so important to talk about perinatal illness in the mainstream and remind parents that it’s okay not to be okay.”
Along with the free letters, Mother’s Day cards can also be purchased from the Victorian Gallery and Museum for the leading lady in your life.