MELINDA Messenger has heaped praise on a Swindon health visitor after hearing of her plans to provide a helpline for depressed mothers.

Daphne Hardwick, who is based at Wroughton Health Centre, wants to launch a phone service for women suffering from post-natal depression.

She is in the process of applying for cash from the Lottery Fund and hopes to see the service up and running within a year.

Such a facility would help the 320 mothers in the town who suffer from perinatal and postnatal depression each year.

Melinda, a mother-of-three, knows first-hand how emotions can spiral out of control after giving birth.

The television presenter said: "Any service which offers a listening ear for mothers suffering from post-natal depression is invaluable.

"It can be very hard to reach out to anyone when feeling so low. Just knowing that you can pick up the phone and speak to someone who can help can make all the difference.

"I fully support Daphne and wish her the best of luck in getting the helpline set up."

Melinda spoke publicly how her PND left her curled up in a ball and sobbing uncontrollably.

She said: "It kicked in about two weeks after having Evie and I can only describe it as like someone ripping my heart out.

"There were times when I thought suicide was the only way out, but I could never have left Evie or my boys."

She praised her husband of eight years, Wayne, for looking after Evie, who is six months old, Morgan, four, and Flynn, two.

"Wayne looked after the children. I would hurl abuse and scream at him for no reason, but he was absolutely wonderful."

Around 15 per cent of mothers experience PND.

Daphne, a mother-of-two, said she would need about £10,000 to set up the helpline. She said: "I found it quite hard to adjust after having a baby.

"A lot of women don't want to speak out for fear of being called a failure. There is also a fear that their children will be taken away from them which is the last thing anyone wants.

"I would like to start recruiting volunteers at the end of the summer mothers who have been there themselves and know what it feels like.

"Women sometimes are put off speaking face-to-face to professionals. They will probably feel more at ease talking to an anonymous voice at the end of the line, rather like the Samaritans.

"This helpline will complement the health service already provided by health professionals in Swindon."

Anyone who can help with funding should email Daphne on daphne.hardwick@Swindon-pct.nhs.uk

To get help contact your GP or health visitor or The Association for Postnatal Illness by calling 020 7386 0868 or visiting www.apni.org.

Alex Emery