History:
Get Me Out The Four Walls was founded in 2015 by Norfolk mum Naomi Farrow following her own battle with Postnatal Depression after the birth of her twin daughters, Naomi was on a mission: To help support local mums who were suffering with the condition by getting them out of the house! The page "Get Me Out The Four Walls Norfolk" was created to find mums who were struggling to get out of the house and encourage them to meet up for coffee, lunch and a chat. In it's first few months the page audience grew rapidly and were offering up to 15 meets per week for parents to escape their four walls all of which were hosted by our volunteer Ambassadors. All Ambassadors are parents who can offer the lived in experience to those needing support. Following the success of the meets group, the GMOTFW PND Support Group launched to offer vital peer support to those who need a safe space to open up. About Postnatal Depression:
Many thousands of parents (mostly women) are diagnosed with Perinatal and Postnatal depression every year and it can cause devastating effects on the woman, her family, her baby and her long-term mental health. With the rollercoaster ride which is pregnancy, childbirth and bringing up a tiny human, it is surprising that this is a condition which does not affect all mums. It can be a very isolating condition where mums may feel they are inadequate, not themselves, unable to form relationships with their babies, unable to communicate with their loved ones and friends and lead to them not wanting to leave the house, get dressed or even function as a woman let alone a Mother. Postnatal depression is still very much a taboo subject in the UK, with many not wanting to admit that they are struggling, that something may not be right. Fears that family will look at them as a failure, a bad mother and fears of authorities being involved is one of the main reasons we hear everyday as to why women do not come forward. The organisation was founded by a mum and our ambassadors/volunteers are mums, all who have found a glimmer of light at the end of the very long dark tunnel which is PND. We pull together and escape our four walls to chat, walk, cry, support, laugh, play and above all provide an ear for anyone who needs it. GMOTFW became a registered charity in 2018 and continue to provide support to parents. We received funding to expand the service into neighbouring county Suffolk where we continue to raise awareness of the charity and recruit volunteers.
