Welcome to our Highland Support Page
Here you will find more about our support services which are available to those who have sadly lost a baby or young child across the NHS Highland area and directions of how to get to our counselling room for any pre-booked appointments with us in Inverness City Centre.
We expanded our support services to the Highlands in late 2021, after it became clear there was a desperate need for our bespoke, specialised baby loss support across the area. We have both a peer supporter and counsellor based in Inverness, and they can support families across the area via phone or video call and are also able to meet families by pre-arranged appointment in the Indigo Room at the Inverness Business Hub. The ability to meet some of our families face to face in a safe, comforting, and private space is thanks to our partnership with the Glen Mhor Hotel & Apartments who own the Business Hub. For very newly bereaved families we are also able to offer our innovative Hospital to Home support to families across the area. Our Hospital to Home worker can offer families up to 6 visits/appointments, offering practical as well as emotional support to the whole family before being able to offer parents a referral to more long-term peer support.
No one should have to go it alone when their precious baby dies.
Since our expansion we have worked hard at developing robust working relationships with NHS Highland staff. We can see the benefit of this collaboration in the speed at which referrals are made to us and in the positive feedback we have received.
Lindsay, our Highlands Peer Supporter, is a bereaved parent herself, and understands the overwhelming and confusing emotions experienced when a baby dies. Baby loss can feel very isolating and lonely and having a Peer Supporter who has walked a similar path can reduce that feeling of isolation. Peer Support is there for as long as is required and may be fortnightly, monthly, or more ad hoc.
Jen, our Counsellor in the Highlands, can offer Person-Centred Counselling to parents who are struggling to make sense of what has happened. This gives bereaved parents a safe, non-judgemental, and empathetic space to explore their grief and other factors in their life, which may be contributing to being stuck in the grieving process.
Magi, our Highlands Hospital to Home worker can offer emotional and practical support to very newly bereaved families who are trying to work out how best to navigate life immediately following the death of their baby.
All our services are free, or donation based, and referrals can be made by emailing info@heldinourhearts.org.uk or by phoning 0131 622 6263.