APP April 2026 Newsletter
Join us for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (MMHAW) runs from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th May. We’d love as many people as possible to get involved, raising awareness of postpartum psychosis (PP) to ensure anyone affected doesn’t feel alone and knows where they can turn to for help and support.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day, #PPPAwarenessDay, is being marked on Friday 1st May.
The MMHAW campaign has been running for ten years so the theme for the week, which is organised by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, is ‘A Decade of Voices.’
To find out more, follow @ActionOnPP on social media and like, comment on and share our posts to help spread awareness. You can join our Network community for email updates and sign up here for our Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge this May.
There are also details of some of the special events we’ve organised below.
Lived experience workshop - creative writing
To mark this year’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we are delighted that Laura Dockrill, What Have I Done? author and Action on Postpartum Psychosis Ambassador (pictured above), is running another session for our lived experience network.
The writing workshop will be taking place over Zoom on Friday 8th May, 12.30pm-1.30pm.
Join us for a relaxed creative writing session offering a warm, gentle, no-pressure environment to write for you and your wellbeing.
No writing experience is required and there is no need for fancy vocabulary or incredible spelling and grammar skills. This is a chance for your heart and head to do some talking. So, leave that inner-critic and expectation behind. All you need is something to write with and on.
If you have lived experience of postpartum psychosis, you can book your place here.
Join us in creating a collaborative poem to be shared in Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
To help celebrate ‘A Decade of Voices’, the theme of this year’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we would like to create and share a collaborative poem.
Anyone within our network can take part - we’d love for you to join us!
If you would like to contribute, please send us a line using the sentence starter ‘My voice found strength when…’. This could be linked to your recovery from postpartum psychosis, or the experience of a friend or loved one. It could be to do with maternal mental health advocacy and awareness-raising. You might not feel your voice has strength right now - but through this collaborative piece we hope we can amplify your voice and offer reassurance and comfort to others.
Please email your line to app@app-network.org and attach an audio recording of you reading the line too, if you would like to. Please send in your contributions by Thursday 30th April.
We will then stitch the contributions together to form a poem, a collection of phrases, whatever format the contributions end up taking when we see what we have got! We look forward to sharing this with you during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.
APP peer support embedded in Mother and Baby Units: webinar to launch research findings
As part of this year’s MMHA Week, the findings from the RAPPORT study evaluating APP’s peer support embedded in Mother and Baby Units are being launched at a special webinar.
RAPPORT (Realist evaluation of Action on Postpartum Psychosis MBU-embedded peer suppORT), led by Dr Annette Bauer at the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, has been assessing APP-provided peer support at three Mother and Baby Units in England (Lancashire, Birmingham and Manchester).
At the webinar on Thursday 7th May, the research team will share key insights on: the importance of providing peer support in MBUs; the impact on recovering women, the health professional team, and on peer supporters; and the essential ingredients for safe, supportive peer support delivery. The event will bring together researchers, clinicians, commissioners, peer support staff and people with lived experience to share findings and discuss implications for practice and future research. It’s free to attend. You can book your place here.
POSIE study Parliamentary launch
An APP-supported study that aims to transform postpartum mental health care for mothers from ethnically diverse backgrounds had its Parliamentary launch on 14th April.
Forty-two percent of maternal deaths between 6 weeks and 12 months after birth are due to suicide or mental health related causes. Black mums are three times more likely, and Asian mums twice as likely, than their white counterparts to die following childbirth.
The Improving Postpartum Outcomes of Severe Mental Illnesses in Ethnically Diverse Mothers (POSIE) project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is a collaboration between several UK universities, NHS Trusts and charities, led by the University of Oxford. It aims to identify practical ways to improve care for mothers from diverse backgrounds experiencing severe postpartum mental illness, including psychosis.
Shaheda Akhtar, APP’s peer support facilitator, who is leading Patient and Public Involvement for the project, attended the launch. She says:
I was really honoured to speak alongside Professor Dame Lesley Regan DBE, Luciana Berger, Professor Faye Ruddock DL and my POSIE project colleagues. A huge thank you to Liz Twist for chairing the session and to Policy Connect for organising the event. With so many experts and advocates in the maternal mental health space in the room, this study is well placed to drive meaningful, sustainable change for women from diverse communities.
To learn more about the POSIE Project, you can read more here.
Shaheda is pictured above (right) with APP’s Chief Executive Dr Jess Heron (centre) and APP’s National Marketing and Digital Communications Coordinator Jessie Hunt (left)
Born from Experience film series launch
Members of the APP team attended the launch of the ‘Born from Experience’ film series in March.
Dr Sally Wilson, APP National Training Coordinator, Jocelyn Ellams, our NW Region Peer Support Manager and APP volunteer Nia all share their experiences in the videos, which aim to help reduce stigma as well as support health professionals and families in recognising the realities of perinatal mental health conditions.
The videos were created by the Helix Forum, a partnership of NHS providers led by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Foundation, which designs and delivers specialised mental health services. The ‘Born from Experience’ event, held at The Picture House in Chester, was organised to celebrate the Forum’s inputting of lived experience into the design of Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit in Chester and these videos.
Jocelyn says:
What a memorable day! I never imagined I’d see myself on the big screen - let alone sharing my experience of postpartum psychosis alongside such inspiring mums from the Helix Forum.
You can watch the full film series here.
If you are interested in being involved with Helix please click here.
Black Maternal Health Conference
APP’s Rachel and Jessie (pictured above) attended the Black Maternal Health Conference in London on Friday 20th March.
Organised by The Motherhood Group, the event celebrated 10 years of impact, highlighting Black maternal health and bringing together mothers, healthcare professionals, VCSEs, organisations, policymakers, students and partners from across the UK.
Rachel says:
It was an enlightening and informative day, with speakers including doulas, surgeons, influencers and authors calling for better treatment for Black mums while giving birth. I thoroughly enjoyed the event and met lots of new people including Sandra Igwe, founder of The Motherhood Group.
Rachel runs APP’s Black mums peer support café group. If you are a Black mum who has experienced mania, bipolar or psychosis after giving birth and would like to connect and talk with other Black mums, you can join our online meeting on the third Friday of every month. To find out more or sign up, email rachelr@app-network.org.
Join our wellbeing event: Matrescence workshop with Maggie Gordon-Walker
APP is running a special wellbeing workshop for people who have experienced psychosis in the perinatal period. The session will focus on becoming a mother, known as matrescence, and how understanding it can help you.
In this 1.5hr session on Thursday 25th June, Maggie Gordon-Walker (pictured above), founder of Mothers Uncovered and advocate for maternal mental health; will explain some of the changes that matrescence can bring. Then using written prompts and guided discussion, we will explore some of those changes that you have experienced.
Book your free place here.
APP at the Perinatal Mental Health Network Research Forum
APP’s Hannah Bissett attended the first in-person Research Forum organised by the North West Coast Perinatal Mental Health Network. Hannah writes:
“With more than 50 passionate and brilliant people in one room, it was great to build connection and community as part of our NHS partnership project in the Lancashire & South Cumbria region.
I presented findings from the RAPPORT study looking at APP’s embedded peer support projects in Mother and Baby Units. The study is now in the final stages of evaluation and it’s really exciting to see the interesting themes that are emerging, from women and families we have supported, our peer supporters and also NHS colleagues.
Research presentations covered a wide variety of topics, but the overall thread of lived experience and involvement for women and families was powerfully represented throughout. Thanks to Beth Luxmore, Stef Maudsley and colleagues from NWCoast, LSCFT and throughout the region for a great day – looking forward to the next one!”
Best practice care for postpartum psychosis: book an APP training session for your team
All Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and Perinatal Mental Health Team (PMHT) staff should be trained in best practice management of postpartum psychosis.
In this session, you’ll hear from people with lived experience, as well as academics and clinicians. Our training is highly rated, with consistently excellent feedback, and 100% of attendees say they would recommend it to colleagues.
If your MBU or Perinatal Mental Health Team is already receiving APP training, new starters can access our online training free of charge for the next 18 months.
APP also now offers 1-2 hour specialist lunchtime sessions for MBUs, covering topics such as working with peer supporters - aimed at helping staff understand how to work effectively with peer supporters.
Training is available for maternity staff, health visitors, GPs, A&E, ambulance staff and other professionals. For more information or to book a training session in, please contact training@app-network.org.
APP perimenopause virtual café group
Perimenopause can be a difficult time for people who have had a postpartum psychosis episode. We’re running a special peer support group around perimenopause on 29th April between 12pm and 1pm.
APP Ambassador, Dr Clare Dolman is a mental health researcher, who has had postpartum psychosis herself and lives with bipolar. In this session, she’ll discuss what is known about perimenopause and the risk of relapse, how we can identify it, what is known about prevention and management. The meeting will also include a group discussion.
This perimenopause café group is a place to share experiences and make new friends. Support from others who have 'been there' too is so important.
This meet-up takes place online via video call. Book your place here.
In the media
Huge congratulations to the BBC Spotlight team: their Mums in Crisis programme which investigated perinatal mental health care in Northern Ireland, has been shortlisted as one of the finalists in the Amnesty Media Awards 2026. The programme explained how urgently a Mother and Bay Unit (MBU) is needed to save lives and prevent trauma. APP’s Northern Ireland media consultant, Liz Morrison, worked with programme producers, supporting them to meet members of our Northern Ireland café group, and others from the APP team. The Amnesty Media Awards Ceremony will be held in London on 6th May.
APP storytellers Frankie and Lizzy appeared on ITV Calendar News in April, sharing their experiences of PP and the need for awareness along with quick, appropriate treatment and access to Mother and Baby Unit care. Both stories reached a wide audience both through the regional news programme for the Yorkshire & Lincolnshire area and through ITV X/ social media reels. Our National Coordinator (NHS Contracts) Hannah was also interviewed.
APP Peer Support Facilitator Shaheda Akhtar appeared on The Delivery Room podcast sharing her experience of PP and highlighting the need for awareness and understanding.
APP volunteer Sofii and our National Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson spoke to BBC News Online about the importance of specialist care for postpartum psychosis and what’s available for women in Wales.
Fundraiser Rory shared his family’s experience of PP and why he’s running the London Marathon for APP. Read the full story in Belfast Live and the Belfast Telegraph.
Volunteer Chris Wasley spoke to Radio Halesowen Town FC about his tour of football grounds, to raise awareness of PP and the importance of Mother and Baby Units.
APP Trustee, Tracey Robinson, has shared her experience of PP in two podcasts:
- Episode Ten - Mother Nature | Rooted And Rising
- So Who Cares Anyway E32 The Power of Stories | Podcasts
Fabulous fundraisers
The coming weekend is a BIG one for APP fundraisers with no fewer than 20 people out in action across the UK!
London Marathon 2026
We have our biggest ever team taking part in the London Marathon this weekend - 14 amazing runners representing APP, coming from all over the UK (and even further afield too!). All have put in hundreds of hours of training over the last year and Sunday will be a celebration of all their hard work.
Our runners represent all parts of the APP community and have shared their reasons for running for us here. Look out for them on the television coverage and add your support for them if you can.
We wish them all the best for a fantastic day and we’re sending a big thank you to them all and to everyone who has supported them so far.
If you feel inspired by our London Marathon team and fancy being part of our team in 2027 - we will have guaranteed places again! Watch this space and our socials for details of how to apply coming on Monday!
Glasgow Kiltwalk
It’s not just in London where we have a big team taking on a big challenge! In Glasgow on the same day, Claire’s Clan will be taking part in the 23 mile Glasgow Kiltwalk.
This team of six amazing women - Dale, Louise, Jenna, Leah, Louise and Daisy - are doing this in memory of Claire who sadly passed away 15 years ago after suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Claire’s sister Dale says: ‘This challenge is our way of remembering her and raising much‑needed awareness of just how serious and devastating this illness can be.
Taking on the Kiltwalk will be myself and my daughter Louise, my sister’s two beautiful daughters Jenna and Leah, and two very close friends, Louise and her daughter Daisy.
To say we are proud of Claire’s girls is an understatement — they have shown incredible resilience growing up without their mum. Had there been greater research, understanding, and support around this illness at the time, they may not have had to endure such a profound loss.
We hope that any money we raise will help support further awareness, research and ultimately help other families avoid the life‑changing effects that we have had to endure.
We are so grateful to everyone that has already donated to support our team - Claire's Clan, it truly means so much to us.’
Good luck to Claire’s Clan - their challenge is a beautiful way to remember Claire.
Manchester Marathon thanks
We were so proud to have three runners representing APP in the Manchester Marathon this year, Rachel, Paul and Catherine!
Rachel and Paul
Rachel, APP Peer Support Sessional Worker at Andersen Mother and Baby Unit, along with her husband Paul decided to take on the massive challenge of running the Manchester Marathon together.
Paul said: 'After the birth of our twins, my wife Rachel suffered from postpartum psychosis. The experience is one of the worst things I’ve ever been through but APP helped me realise my wife would get through it and recover.
Having never even heard of postpartum psychosis until Rachel’s diagnosis made the whole situation, her delusions, hallucinations and then the confusion of what it was, much more difficult, not least with two premature babies as well!
So anything we can do to raise awareness and to help other families going through the same thing means an awful lot to us.'
Their twins supported their parents throughout their training and were there on the big day to cheer them on!
Rachel and Paul absolutely smashed it last weekend, and have already raised more than £1,300 - you can add your support for the family here: www.justgiving.com/page/paul-rachel-mcv
Catherine
Also representing us last weekend in Manchester was friend of APP, Catherine, who volunteered for APP whilst a student at Birmingham University. She said:
Having volunteered with APP while at uni I saw a glimpse of the important work you do. I know the charity is small and does fantastic work so I like to support you when I can!
Catherine has raised more than £1,000 for APP with her incredible marathon efforts. She also had an amazing run on Sunday. Find out more here.
Abseiling for APP
Thank you to Ann and Emily for abseiling for APP! Ann battled vertigo and a fear of heights to bravely take on this amazing challenge in beautiful Ilkley Moor last week.
Together they raised an incredible £1,200 - find out more and add your support for them here.
Miles for Mums and Babies
We already have lots of people signed up and ready to take part in this year’s Miles for Mums and Babies challenge this May! Could you join them and help us raise both funds and awareness? Sign up today, pledge to raise at least £50 and we'll send you a free APP t-shirt or vest, balloons and other awareness and fundraising materials, plus a medal when you complete your challenge! 👕 🎈🥇
Each mile you complete as part of the challenge reflects the journey mums, babies, partners and families travel to be together, whilst mums receive care in Mother and Baby Units.
Could you walk, run, swim, cycle or toddle 10, 50, 100 or 1000 miles or more? Or, choose your own distance, perhaps reflecting a number or distance that is special to you.
You could complete the distance on your own or as part of a team – maybe get all the family involved, invite your work colleagues to join you or convince a group of friends. You could even complete your chosen distance using a variety of methods - run, swim, row, cycle, walk…. It’s up to you. Find out more and sign up to receive our free Miles for Mums and Babies pack here.
Hold a Big Bake for APP during Maternal Mental Health Week
With Maternal Mental Health Week coming up in May, it could be the perfect opportunity to get friends, family, or colleagues together for an awareness raising Big Bake for APP! Plan an afternoon tea, a work place bake sale, themed cake decorating competition or a picnic in the park and help raise funds and awareness for APP at the same time!
Get your FREE Big Bake pack (including some of the APP team's favourite recipes!) by emailing fundraising@app-network.org.
We can't wait to hear about what you have planned!
Dates for your diary
APP Birmingham face to face café group meet up, Friday 24th April
APP Manchester face to face café group meet up in Stockport, Friday 24th April
APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 25th April
APP London virtual café group meet up, Monday 27th April
APP perimenopause virtual cafe group meet up, Wednesday 29th April
APP LGBTQ+ virtual café group meet up, Thursday 30th April
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 1st May
Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day, Friday 1st May
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, Monday 4th to Sunday 10th May
APP Muslim women’s virtual café group meet-up, Tuesday 5th May
World Maternal Mental Health Day 2026, Wednesday 6th May
APP UK wide virtual café group meet-up, Thursday 7th May
Launch of RAPPORT study findings evaluating APP’s peer support embedded in Mother and Baby Units, Thursday 7th May
APP lived experience creative writing workshop with Laura Dockrill, Friday 8th May
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 8th May
APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 9th May
APP Yorkshire face to face café group meet up in Leeds, Saturday 9th May
Mental Health Awareness Week, Monday 11th to Sunday 17th May
South Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 11th May
APP grandparents virtual café group meet-up, Thursday 14th May
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 15th May
APP London virtual café group meet up, Monday 18th May
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 20th May
APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 20th May
APP Northern Ireland face to face café group meet up in Belfast, Saturday 23rd May
APP creative connections virtual meeting, Tuesday 9th June
APP Scotland face to face café group meet up in Edinburgh, Saturday 13th June
APP Black women’s virtual café group meet up, Friday 19th June
Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.
Conferences and events
March for Mothers, Wednesday 6th May
Sport in Mind is holding regional walks as part of World Maternal Mental Health Day to raise awareness of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder in new mothers.
West Oxfordshire Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week Event, Friday 8th May
The Community Wellbeing Team at West Oxfordshire County Council are hosting an event at the Corn Exchange, Witney. It will provide advice and support for new parents and their families, and Rich will be attending on behalf of APP. More information can be found here.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Show 2026, Friday 15th May
Guest speakers, seminars and talks at Cardiff City Stadium event for health professionals, charity and Third Sector staff, parents and guardians. More details and book tickets here.
Branching Out webinar, Wednesday 20th May
The Hearts & Minds Partnership webinar bringing together organisations and individuals from the grassroots perinatal mental health sector. More details and tickets available here.
Recognising and Responding to Maternal Deterioration, Wednesday 20th May
Online conference looking at how MEWS, NEWTT2 and the Perinatal Optimisation Care Pathway have been adopted in organisations across the country and the impact on recognising and responding to deterioration in maternity care. A 20% discount is available for members of the APP network with code hcuk20app . More details and booking here.
If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org.