Becoming a parent can be extremely daunting but a café in Parkhead is offering support to new parents to help them feel less isolated and increase their interaction with other new parents.
Café Stork, which was set up to offer a place for new parents to access support in the early stages of parenthood, was today visited by the Minister for Mental Health, Clare Haughey.
New parents ands carers can often feel isolated and under stress but the café offers a welcoming space where mums and dads can chat with other parents in a relaxed atmosphere. There are activities that parents can choose to join and help and advice is available for café staff which parents can access without feeling judged.
The Minister for Mental Health was welcomed to the café by staff and parents. She spoke to mums and café over a cup of tea and listened to their experience of a very unique café.
Susie Heywood, Health Improvement Senior, North East Glasgow Health Improvement Team, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We were delighted that the Ms Haughey was interested in coming along to visit our group and hope she enjoyed the opportunity to speak to us and join in the group conversation.
“Café Stork has been running in Parkhead for over three years now, providing a welcoming place for parents to be and new parents to meet, relax and if needed get a bit of extra support.
“We recognise that pretty much every new parent can benefit from spending time with other parents, but that sometimes walking in to an established group can be hard.
“We also know that loneliness is a big issue in our community, and that new parents in particular can feel this way.
“We’ve tried to set Café Stork up in such a way that anyone who comes through the door is made to feel welcome and a part of the group.
“I know that the Minister has a particular passion for perinatal mental health so we were glad she could see how what are doing at Café Stork contributes to this national agenda.”