Perinatal Mental Health Support Groups
Empowering māmā through mental wellness
True Colours - Honouring the Mother offers perinatal mental health support groups, both in-person and online, providing a safe space for mothers to share their experiences and receive guidance. Our focus is on nurturing the mental wellbeing of mothers during the crucial phases of motherhood. We are dedicated to providing a supportive community where mothers can find solace and understanding.
About us
True Colours - Honouring the Mother has been supporting māmā, pēpi and whānau by embracing, educating, and empowering māmā since 2018. Two monthly support groups are offered in person and online to provide crucial aid to māmā facing perinatal challenges such as perinatal depression and anxiety, PTSD, and OCD.
We are the ONLY perinatal mental health support group in the Bay of Plenty working preventatively to capture māmā before they reach clinically diagnosed levels of distress. We work in collaboration with other social, medical, and mental health services.
The power of uniting mothers
The effectiveness of our service relies on creating a compassionate space where mothers can genuinely express themselves, aiding successful parenting amidst societal pressures and modern life demands. The power of a group in supporting māmā through the transition to parenthood, which brings changes in lifestyle, roles, responsibilities, and relationships has been evidenced and is referred to as ‘Matrescence’.
Research shows that support group benefits include: reduced isolation, mitigating stress impacts, enhancing health information sharing, and offering positive self-management role models
Our Story
When Founder Michelle Hall experienced postnatal depression, she was committed to supporting other māmā's by eliminating the stigma and removing the barriers to help. This led to the creation of True Colours - Honouring the Mother. Her intention was to focus on connection, relationships, and safety to enable māmā to share their vulnerability.
This approach has been validated within the service since 2018 and further evidenced by academic research that emphasises the importance of support and connection in treating perinatal distress. We pride ourselves on creating a comfortable and secure space where māmā can openly discuss their challenges and experiences free from judgment.
The essence of this service lies in building relationships, with māmā learning from each other and connecting so they realise they are not alone, cultivating a cohesive, compassionate community that supports each other's wellbeing. Our goal is to provide an inclusive, equitable, and relatable service to cater to the diverse needs of all parents in the Bay of Plenty.
Mother's Voices
Mel
The group sessions I attended were well organised, I felt completely at ease knowing that any information I shared was confidential. The facilitators listened and when appropriate, provided guidance on ways to cope with the pressures of motherhood (and life in general). The group is fantastic, child friendly and non-judgemental, it's so nice to know there are others out there who are going through similar challenges and we can all connect.
thanks for offering this service I always look forward to our meetings and recommend attending for anyone who is struggling with depression or anxiety
FOLLOW US @TRUECOLOURSMOTHER
Currently, our service is generously funded by The Wright Family Foundation and BayTrust, ensuring that it remains free for māmā. We are grateful for additional support from Lifezone Church, Judea who sponsors part of the room hire costs in addition to Good Bitches Baking, who provides kai. We couldn't provide this service without the help of these incredible organisations.