All posts by Jessie Hunt

5 August 2025

Rory’s story: It was supposed to be the best year of our lives but we ended up living apart for five months

2023 was supposed to be the best year of our lives, having our first child in Spring and getting married at Christmas time.

Within 12 weeks we went from the feeling of reassurance that the 20 week scan gave us, to living apart for nearly five months when Megan was admitted to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) following a mental health crisis.

I'd heard of the baby blues and postnatal depression but I'd never heard of postpartum psychosis (PP), which happens in around 1-2 in 1000 pregnancies. I also didn't know the most common cause of death of women within a year of having a child was suicide, a risk I didn't think we would be managing after becoming parents for the first time.

While PP most often occurs following birth, our case was slightly different and things started to go wrong while Megan was still pregnant. She became more and more anxious about the pregnancy, worrying that something awful was happening and that she couldn't feel any movement. We were visiting A&E regularly, being sent for yet another scan, waiting for hours to be told everything was fine and being asked if this was our first child. People suggesting we were worrying for no reason became our norm.

However, we were told she didn’t meet the threshold for perinatal mental health support when we finally got an assessment. This cycle went on for weeks with Megan's anxiety becoming worse by the day, and her severe sleep issues led to stronger delusional beliefs. It was only when Megan became suicidal that I feel like we were finally listened to.

At 32 weeks pregnant she was sectioned. It was awful for her and I will never forget the sadness in her eyes as I had to say goodbye. As difficult as that was I knew that her safety, and our unborn child were the priority. A few weeks later, our beautiful son was born prematurely and he spent some time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while I spent my days visiting him in one part of the hospital and Megan in the other. Three weeks later was the first sign of hope I had, as Oscar was discharged and able to move to the MBU to be with his mummy, and supported by the most wonderful nursery team who looked after my family outside of visiting hours and when I returned to work.

Coming back to an empty flat for the best part of five months broke my heart but mums and their babies need each other and that's one of the reasons MBUs exist. Sadly, there still isn't enough of them across the UK and none at all in Northern Ireland where we planned to have our children. I spent a lot of time researching postpartum psychosis and finding the stories on APP’s website and forum gave me hope - as did the MBU staff reassuring me that "she will get better".

A photo of a young boy with blonde hair and beige short-sleeved shirt — Rory and Megan's son, Oscar

When Megan and Oscar came home I told myself if I could get through those months, everything else would be a breeze. And whilst things slowly got better, my personal resilience was shot, just as I was finally feeling like a proper dad for the first time and not relying on hospital staff. In truth the last year and a half has not been easy as Megan continued to recover at home, and we have both had our mental health challenges.

Megan continued to engage in the professional services even when she didn’t want to. Her hard work, support from our family who visited regularly, our patience for each other and the love of the most amazing little human have got us to where we are now. Now we are looking forward and building memories as a family and have a lot be thankful for. Sadly not everyone makes it this far, but those who access the support we have are able to have a much better chance.

Seeing how far Megan has come in the last 6 months makes me proud. She kept a lot of her feelings and experiences inside as there is a lot of stigma associated with mental illness, but she has come through that and no longer feels shame. She has now shared her experiences openly with friends and family, many of whom had no idea what she went through, as well as social media, and that's what's inspired me to write this.

The work of APP is critical in raising awareness including their campaign to open Northern Ireland’s first MBU, and educating medical professionals in maternal mental health. For anyone reading this who is going through something similar, don’t lose hope as things really can get better.

Rory is running the London Marathon for APP in April 2026. Find out more and add your support for his run here.

3 June 2025

Urgent need for an NI Mother and Baby Unit under the Spotlight: APP says funding is urgent to save lives

Media release: 3rd June 2025
For immediate release

Today’s BBC Spotlight investigation into perinatal mental health care in Northern Ireland shows just how urgently a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) is needed to save lives and prevent life-long trauma, national charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) says.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without an MBU, a specialist inpatient mental health treatment centre where mothers can be admitted with their babies for care and treatment. Instead, mums are admitted to acute psychiatric wards for non-specialist treatment, separating them from their babies.

APP estimates that around 100 women a year will require hospital admission for severe mental illness in the year after birth, including about 35 with postpartum psychosis, a severe and life-threatening mental illness that can develop suddenly. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in Northern Ireland.

While APP welcomed the announcement more than six months ago that Belfast Trust will take forward plans for NI’s first MBU, we are concerned that we still haven’t seen ring-fenced funding, a firm timeline, and interim measures.

Dr Jess Heron, Chief Executive of Action on Postpartum Psychosis said:

“Tonight we heard from mums and their families who urgently need better mental health care. It’s a story APP hears all the time from the mums who attend our postpartum psychosis Northern Ireland peer support group who, like Shelley, have been separated from their babies and admitted to psychiatric inpatient wards for treatment.

“And too often we hear the stories of tragedy, with lives lost - a story we all heard tonight from Siobhan Graham about her daughter Orlaith Quinn.

“We’ve waited 16 years since Michelle O’Neil and the Stormont Health Committee agreed that Northern Ireland needs a Mother and Baby Unit, but only now are we seeing real plans for this to progress. And we keep waiting. We have a site chosen, but there still isn’t a business plan. The Minister has told the Assembly he hopes to greenlight it this calendar year, but we need a commitment that this will happen.

“We are concerned that in reality, it could be many years until an MBU opens. Years when women continue to be separated from their babies for treatment by non-specialists; where they don’t receive appropriate physical care in the weeks after giving birth; where they miss out on vital bonding with the baby; and where families struggle to provide care for babies. Years in which women continue to die by suicide because they aren’t getting the care and treatment they need.

“We’re cautious about calling for interim measures, as there is always a risk that what should be short-term solutions become long-term, or even permanent. But there needs to be a plan while we wait; we know there are women dying, and being needlessly traumatised in non-specialist units.

“Spotlight visited the Exeter MBU which is a great example not just of how an MBU supports recovery while keeping mum and baby together, but is also an example of how an interim unit has been just that – not ideal, but a safe and appropriate space where mums can be with their babies while they recover from severe postpartum mental illness while a permanent unit is built.”

For more information or to arrange an interview contact Liz Morrison on 07711 558 296, liz.morrison@me.com / Lucy Nichol on 07771 967 032, lucy@app-network.org

Anyone affected by postpartum psychosis, now or many years ago, can access support from APP, including an NI Peer Support Group for mothers who have experienced it at any time. Email app@app-network.org for more information. For more information on postpartum psychosis and support available go to www.app-network.org

Background

Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that doesn’t have a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), which provides specialist inpatient care for mums experiencing severe postnatal illness and their babies. Instead, mothers are admitted to general acute psychiatric wards for non-specialist treatment, separating them from babies.

An MBU provides specialist care for both mum and baby. Mental health teams with specialist training are able to provide the best care, for example: prescribing drugs that are suitable for use in the perinatal period; supporting the mother-infant relationship and the development of parenting skills; providing adequate postpartum physical care and appropriate facilities (such as nappy changing, milk fridges, play areas, safe places for older siblings to visit).

One in 5 women will experience mental health problems during pregnancy or after birth. Around 1000 women each year in Northern Ireland will develop a severe postnatal illness. This can include postpartum psychosis, severe depression and anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Between 84 and 122 will need admission to hospital. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death, but with the right care is almost always preventable.

Postpartum mental health problems, in particular postpartum psychosis, can come on and escalate very quickly. This is not rare. The charity, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, who run a peer support group for women in NI who have experienced PP, estimates that 35 women in NI will develop the illness each year. While women with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop postpartum psychosis, 50% of cases are ‘out of the blue’, to women who have experienced no previous mental health problems.

The risk was highlighted at the 2022 inquest into the tragic death of Orlaith Quinn, who took her own life on a maternity ward while experiencing postpartum psychosis. The Coroner called for an MBU in NI.

According to the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths, suicide was the leading cause of maternal death in the first year after birth in the UK.

Facts about postpartum psychosis

Episodes of severe mental illness, such as mania or psychosis, follow 1-2 in 1,000 deliveries.
In Northern Ireland, around 35 women a year experience postpartum psychosis.
An average-sized maternity unit would see 8-10 cases of rapid-onset psychosis following childbirth in a year. Around 1,400 cases occur each year in the UK.
Postpartum Psychosis is a devastating illness for mothers and families.
It strikes at a time when families are full of expectation. Mothers feel loss, guilt, and responsibility for missing out on the early months of motherhood. Fathers become responsible for a newborn or are separated from their families. They do not know if their partners will fully recover.
Postpartum Psychosis can occur in women from all social classes, occupations, and educational backgrounds. Often, it occurs 'out of the blue' to women without any previous psychiatric history.
The stakes are high if the illness is not identified sufficiently early, or is poorly managed, both in terms of maternal outcome (including risk of suicide) and child outcome (including rare and tragic cases of infanticide).
According to The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health (MBRRACE-UK https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk), suicide is the leading cause of maternal deaths. Half of these suicides occur in mothers suffering the acute onset of psychotic illness. Completed suicides are the tip of the iceberg in terms of ‘near miss’ events occurring to women who develop Postpartum Psychosis.
Postpartum Psychosis is eminently treatable, but services must respond quickly and appropriately to these psychiatric emergencies. Episodes have a rapid onset, usually within days of delivery, and may escalate to full-blown psychosis quickly - within hours or days.
Although episodes of Postpartum Psychosis are among the most severe illnesses seen in clinical practice, Postpartum Psychosis also has one of the best prognoses.
Acute symptoms are similar to those of bipolar disorder and may include: extreme elation or euphoria, rapid mood changes, or depressed mood; the rapid onset of unusual beliefs; visual and auditory hallucinations; extreme confusion; and behaviour can be very bizarre. Episodes can be very frightening for women and their families.
The causes of Postpartum Psychosis are unknown, but the dramatic hormonal and biological changes that occur at childbirth are thought to be involved. There is some evidence of a genetic component to the illness and of a link with bipolar disorder. One in 4 women with a history of bipolar disorder experience Postpartum Psychosis following childbirth.
The majority of women are substantially recovered within a few months, but full recovery and coming to terms with the illness may take 12 months or longer.
Recovery is a difficult and lengthy process. Factors that contribute to these difficulties include: limited availability of information about Postpartum Psychosis and recovery; isolation caused by lack of visible others who have experienced the illness; poor awareness in the general public and media; the stigma associated with experiencing mental illness - particularly at this time when women have high hopes of new motherhood; difficulties coming to terms with behaviour during the illness; limited availability of specialist psychological and practical support following admission to facilitate coming to terms with the episode, looking after a baby, rebuilding relationships, and mothering confidence.
Misguided portrayals in the media can contribute to mothers' feelings of isolation and to difficulties in discussing their experiences with other mothers. Often, when women or their partners search the internet for information about their illness, alarmist stories about mothers harming their babies are the first they encounter.
Postpartum Psychosis is not simply a more severe form of postnatal depression. In fact, many mothers with Postpartum Psychosis do not experience any symptoms of depression at all; rather, they experience extreme elation, spirituality, confusion, and quickly lose contact with reality. The majority of women, therefore, are unable to seek help for themselves, and others must obtain help for them.

29 May 2025

Frankie’s story: I was lucky to get a bed on an MBU – every woman with PP should have access to one

By Frankie Roe

My friend said I’m the world’s worst patient and she is absolutely right. My brain doesn’t cope well with being told what to do or being stuck indoors, so I keep it happy by being active and spending lots of time outside. So, if I’m being honest, I absolutely loathed being stuck in an MBU. But I don’t know where I’d be today without the high standard of care that I received in there.

It was after giving birth to my firstborn that I became unwell, although, when I look back on it, I was struggling with anxiety for a long time before I even got pregnant. I found the pandemic really tough - not the fear of being ill, but the fear of being confined. I was also struggling with anxiety around the pregnancy, as I miscarried the first time which was really traumatic. Due to covid restrictions my partner waited in the corridor while I sat on my own waiting for our scan to confirm the pregnancy had ended. He was briefly allowed in before being sent back outside. We weren’t offered any counselling or support.

I got pregnant a few months after the miscarriage and hated every second of the pregnancy. Even after the 12-week scan when they told me my baby was well and wriggling around, I couldn’t relax. I became convinced the baby had stopped moving and was going to die.

I told myself that when the baby arrived I’d be able to relax, but my daughter wasn’t gaining weight and seemed so vulnerable. And so after the birth my fears about dead babies intensified.

I wasn’t sleeping, I was having to drive to the other side of the city for health appointments because of the pandemic and I was exhausted. But I kept powering through. When I couldn’t sleep at night I was cooking or painting furniture at 4am, and I was putting my daughter in her baby sling and going for four-mile walks across the moors. Because I’m such an active person these things didn’t stand out too much, but in retrospect they were definitely extreme - even for me.

I saw my GP and was diagnosed with postnatal depression and given antidepressants – and things rapidly deteriorated.

After starting antidepressants, I was cycling through rapid mood swings – being absolutely manic one minute and telling my partner I felt like jumping off a bridge the next. Plus, my sleep at this point was pretty non-existent and I became convinced that it was because of the colour of my bed sheets. I was terrified that I might never sleep again and the lack of sleep would kill me. I became increasingly possessive over my baby and refused to let my partner take on his share. I was hearing babies crying when I did manage to step away from her for a shower or to rest but would come downstairs in a panic to find her sleeping peacefully.

About ten weeks post-birth I mentally hit a cliff edge, the crisis team was called, and I was admitted to a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU).

I already knew what an MBU was because they came up in my Google searches when I was trying to find out what was wrong with me. I knew something wasn’t right - I just didn’t know what - so I agreed to go in voluntarily. My partner later told me that had I not agreed, I would likely have been sectioned the following day.

It was a weird experience because it was during the pandemic, and I had to stay in 24-hour isolation upon arrival, but it was good for me because I was given lorazepam and finally slept.

They immediately took me off my antidepressants and started me on antipsychotics and the psychosis improved really quickly. Still, I didn’t enjoy being in there. I know people need MBUs and hospital care, but I resented being inside and feeing like my life was controlled – and all the pandemic restrictions on top of that were tough, too. But I knew it was the best place for me.

Although the psychosis subsided quite quickly, I had really bad anxiety and my sleep patterns were all over the place. Even after discharge, I had recurrent periods of insomnia and I lost a lot of confidence. I found myself deferring to my partner when I’m naturally independent and stubborn.

I was back at work 10 months after giving birth and, although in hindsight I probably wasn’t fully ready for it, my manager was great and I felt really supported.

After having PP, I didn’t think I’d have another baby. But after a few years I felt ready to try.

I became pregnant really quickly and have been lucky that the second time around I didn’t become mentally unwell – but I also knew I had lots of NHS professionals on the case if I did.

I feel so grateful that, when I needed it, that specialist care on an MBU was there for me – because the idea of being separated from your baby on a general psychiatric ward is inhumane. I was told there were only eight beds for Yorkshire and the Humber so I was incredibly lucky to get a place when I needed it – and that’s why we need more MBU beds available for anyone who needs them. You hope you won’t need one but if you do become seriously ill, it’s definitely the best place for you. It will probably be hard but what would be a damn sight harder is sitting at home and letting it get worse and worse.

That’s why I think, if you get the choice to go voluntarily, you should absolutely take it. You might feel as though you’re losing your freedom at first, but you’ll get your freedom back so much sooner if you accept all the specialist help on offer. And when you look back on it, you’ll feel good about making that choice and accepting that help. I know that being on a mental health unit doesn’t make me a crap parent – and that accepting the help was the best thing to do for me and my baby.

2 May 2025

How to get involved with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

We're proud once again to support Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (5 - 11 May) – an important campaign founded by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership.

The theme for this year's campaign is “Your Voice, Your Strength” – something that resonates deeply with us at APP, reinforcing the work we already do to amplify the voices of women and families affected by PP.

During the week you'll see us sharing stories and further highlighting the information and support we have available so no one has to go through this alone.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved, too, so we've outlined some of the activities we'll be taking part in on social media below:

Just prior to the main week, on Friday 2nd May, we have Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day (#PPPAwarenessDay). We’re also opening bookings for FREE training for health professionals.
On Monday 5th May, the theme is “Conversations That Matter” – so we’ll be having open and honest discussions around maternal mental health, and launching new resources to support families.
On Thursday 8th May from 7.30pm, we're hosting an online creativity session that you're welcome to join. It will be a relaxed online session where you can share your creative work (art, poetry, or something else) related to postpartum psychosis, and chat about what it means to you.
On Friday 9th May, it’s the ‘Perinatal Positivity Pot’ day where we'll be focusing on stories of hope and recovery and, at 10am, we're excited to be going live on Instagram with Eve from the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership and Shaheda and Sally from the APP team.
Plus, on the same day at 12.30, we're thrilled that author and APP ambassador, Laura Dockrill, is going to be running another online creative writing session for our lived experience community. No experience is required - all you need is something to write with and on, and to book ahead!

Remember, to get involved and be kept up to date with further information:

Follow @ActionOnPP on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and BlueSky). Every like, comment and share helps spread awareness.
Share your story or your thoughts and tag us.
Book ahead for the Thursday evening creativity session and the Friday lunchtime writing session.
Join our free APP Network to connect with others and get regular updates, just visit our website and tap ‘Get involved’.
Sign up for our Miles for Mums and Babies challenge this May to help raise awareness and support families affected by postpartum psychosis.

1 May 2025

Nurse makes miles matter for maternal mental health

Laura Davies, a Mental Health Nurse at Betsi Cadwaladr’s Perinatal Mental Health Service, is running almost 70 miles from Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Maternity Unit to the site of the new specialist mental health Mother and Baby Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital to raise money for APP and Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity’s Perinatal Mental Health fund.

In Winter 2025 the all-new Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit will be opened at the Countess of Chester Hospital following a unique collaboration between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, NHS England and NHS Wales.

For the past few months, Laura has been training hard for her incredible challenge whilst raising almost £1,400 for her chosen charities.

Talking about her challenge, Laura said: “We know that admission to a mental health unit can be a scary and stressful time for many of our families and we want to be able to offer additional support that goes over and above what the NHS can fund to anyone who may need it during this time.

“This is why during the first week of May, to coincide with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, I have decided to embark on this big challenge in order to raise funds for our service and Action on Postpartum Psychosis.”

Once open, Seren Lodge will become a specialist eight bedded mental health unit to support perinatal mothers, babies and their families from across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside.

The unit will provide a safe and therapeutic space for women to receive care and treatment and will enable mothers to remain with their babies whilst they recover, whilst also supporting partners and families during this time.

A spokesperson for Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity said: “Laura is taking on an incredible challenge by running almost 70 miles from Ysbyty Gwynedd to the Countess of Chester Hospital to raise funds for Perinatal Mental Health at Betsi Cadwaladr, and also to raise awareness for maternal mental health as we enter Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. The money Laura raises will go towards funding over and above support for women and their families during challenging times. Good luck, Laura!”

As the UK’s national charity dedicated to supporting women and families affected by postpartum psychosis – for which admission to a Mother and Baby Unit, like Seren Lodge, is paramount - APP is delighted to be included in this impressive fundraising challenge.

Felicity Lambert, National Fundraising Coordinator, APP, said: “We’re wishing Laura the best of luck for her incredible ultra marathon this weekend. We’re all in awe of her taking on this massive challenge to raise funds and awareness of APP and for Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit. The funds she raises for APP will help us support even more women and families affected by postpartum psychosis – a severe but highly treatable maternal mental illness. Thank you, Laura!”

To support Laura’s fundraising challenge, you can donate to both Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity and APP here: Team fundraising for Awyr Las and APP is fundraising for APP

29 April 2025

Iqra's story - I kept pushing myself like I had a superpower

When a mental health professional told me that I was really poorly - but that I could be treated - I stopped running away from it. I finally knew that there was something wrong with me, that it wasn’t my fault and, with the right help I could get better. It was the most reassuring thing anyone had said to me since I gave birth to my twins.

It was 2023 when I became unwell with postpartum psychosis (PP). I didn’t actually realise I was unwell at the time, but now I can reflect on it, I can pinpoint when it all started. And I believe I started to become unwell almost straight after giving birth.

I already had three children when I was pregnant with twins. My husband and I were both really excited. We’d recently moved house and had it renovated, and I was due a c-section, so everything felt a bit more planned. But we certainly didn’t plan for me becoming so unwell. In fact, neither me nor my husband had ever heard of PP before it affected us.

After giving birth, I didn’t really feel a connection to my new babies. My husband was obviously busy trying to look after our other three children, one of who has special needs, and I just felt a bit overwhelmed. I was struggling to feed the twins and I was really low on iron, which meant I found it hard to stay awake and I kept losing consciousness.

I just couldn’t admit that I needed help and I needed to slow down.

After having a blood transfusion I was able to go home to be with my family. I was excited to be back at home but I found it really difficult. I’d be up in the night with my newborns, and my husband would be up in the night with our son who is autistic. The workload of running a home and looking after five children just became too much – but every day I kept telling myself that I was fine – I could handle it. I just couldn’t admit that I needed help and I needed to slow down.

As exhaustion started to get the better of me, I started to believe some strange and supernatural ideas. The house we live in is my husband’s late grandad’s, and I started to believe that his spirit was around me and that I could hear his voice. I didn’t feel scared at first – in fact I felt quite positive about the experience. But as time went on, I started becoming agitated as well, snapping at everyone and yet I still refused to admit that I was struggling and needed help.

I set myself really high standards, trying to breastfeed both my twins and trying not to give them dummies which was really tough. Then, when they were eight weeks old, I broke down, feeling defeated. I gave them dummies and felt really disappointed in myself.

I was losing control of my own mind.

From that point on I wasn’t sleeping at night, even when the twins were asleep and I had that time and space to myself. I remember that I would look at their faces and feel scared. My mind was playing tricks on me and, when I looked at them, their faces looked disfigured. I was losing control of my own mind.

I definitely still had some kind of grasp on reality, however, because I knew that if I said out loud what I believed and what I was thinking people would assume I was crazy. So I kept everything to myself.

My delusions and hallucinations started becoming more intense at this point. I created some kind of male figure in my mind who was telling me that I wasn’t attractive and that my hands and my hair were awful. I became obsessed with these thoughts, spending all night brushing my hair and washing my hands over and over. Then the delusion started to spiral out of control, telling me to take my own life, and that my family would be better off without me.

As a Muslim woman in the Asian community, I’d heard people talking about black magic and I started wondering if somebody had performed black magic on me. I had no understanding of maternal mental health problems, and I’d certainly never heard of PP. I was so burnt out and exhausted by this point that I did eventually take an overdose to try to end it all.

My husband found me after I fainted and called an ambulance. The paramedics took me to hospital, but I was so out of it I kept trying to run away, to run back home. Eventually, someone from the mental health team came to speak to me and that was the big turning point for me.

That’s when they told me I was unwell, that I needed help, and that I could get better. Because I had tried to take my own life, I was admitted to an MBU (Mother and Baby Unit) but at this point nobody knew about my hallucinations and delusions as I kept it all to myself – so nobody knew I had PP.

After admitting to the hallucinations and delusions and getting the antipsychotic medication the psychosis started to recede really quickly.

As soon as I was admitted I was given sleeping pills and they worked wonders. However, they certainly didn’t cure me and it wasn’t until I finally admitted to the staff about my psychotic symptoms that I was given the right medication to get me on the road to recovery.

Still, it took a while to get fully better. I took so many medications, at one point I was taking 14 pills every day! My anxiety was sky high and I felt really overwhelmed and panicky and was unable to control the amount of oxygen I needed so I kept passing out.

But after admitting to the hallucinations and delusions and getting the antipsychotic medication the psychosis started to recede really quickly.

You hold back because you think your children will be taken away or you’ll be locked up forever, but for me, being honest was the turning point. Letting the health professionals in on what was really going on was the only way to get me well.

Now I’m recovered I want to share my story because I know how reassuring it is to meet others who have been through what you have. Motherhood is really hard anyway, but adding maternal mental illness into the mix makes things incredibly difficult. One thing I have learnt, however, is that your mind is really important and, if it needs rest, you need to let it rest. Plus, if you are becoming mentally unwell, the only real way out is by being honest about it and asking for help.

Before I was able to open up, I didn’t really socialise in the MBU, where I would stay for three months in total. But when I started speaking to the other mums in there and realising I wasn’t alone and I certainly wasn’t crazy, I started to feel so much better – speaking to others definitely helped me in my recovery. Now, I hope I can play a part in helping other women and families too.

12 February 2025

BBC's Casualty explores importance of friends, family and colleagues spotting the signs of PP

Fans of BBC's Casualty will have no doubt been following Nicole's dramatic postpartum psychosis storyline, the peak of which aired earlier this month.

The storyline is something that we've all been following at APP too - for several months in fact - as we were delighted to be approached by the Casualty team to work with them as they developed the scripts in 2024.

Nicole's story is a little bit different, as she gave birth as a surrogate, so returned to work very quickly, and it was while she was working in the Casualty department that she first developed symptoms of PP. To watch the build up scenes where Nicole's partner and colleague, Ngozi, starts to notice that something is wrong, you can check out the episode that aired on 25th January by clicking here.

The story progressed as Nicole became acutely unwell, making mistakes, becoming confused and suffering from hallucinations and delusions. Eventually, her colleagues spotted the signs of PP and knew immediately that Nicole needed urgent help.

The story is so well done and we're really pleased with how the team handled everything so sensitively. There's a link to watch Nicole's main episode below, but please take care when watching as it is such a strong and powerful portrayal.

Watch Nicole's episode here

Our wonderful fundraiser and storyteller, Juliette Mackenzie, also wrote a fabulous response piece to the story which was published in metro. Juliette is herself a midwife who experienced PP and, much in the same vein as Nicole's storyline, found herself being supported and diagnosed by colleagues.

Read Juliette's response piece here.

We're always keen to hear from producers and programme teams who are working on postpartum psychosis storylines. Should you wish to discuss this with us, please contact our media team by emailing media@app-network.org

17 December 2024

City Bridge Foundation provides significant funding for peer support

We are delighted to announce that Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) has received 5 years of funding from City Bridge Foundation – London’s biggest independent charity funder – for a project to provide peer support for London-based women and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP).

The new funding will help APP build a PP peer support community and is for anyone living in London affected by PP - whether newly recovering or with experience of PP many years ago. The project will reduce isolation, break through stigma, and provide empathy and hope. APP groups are social, supportive, warm and fun, with a wellbeing focus. Members of the community can train as volunteers as they recover and develop new skills.

Tragically, suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the 12 months after having a baby. PP is the most severe form of postnatal mental illness affecting 1 to 2 in every 1000 new mums. With the right help, people recover, but the journey to full recovery can be hard. There is much work to do to raise awareness, ensure swift diagnosis, enable families to access specialist treatment and tailored peer support to help women and families feel less alone.

The City Bridge Foundation funding will provide several opportunities for us to improve support to families.

We will be recruiting an additional peer support worker to cover the London area, ensuring that more women and families have access to this powerful form of support. This will include a regular London PP community café group and one-to-one peer support.

We will also be given additional funds to focus on targeted awareness raising in the London area, connect with London Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), and to run creative workshops.

Ellie Ware, APP National Peer Support Coordinator said:

“We are so thrilled to receive this grant. This will help us to reach more families in London affected by postpartum psychosis (PP), and to offer more peer support than we currently offer. This will include running a monthly in person peer support café group. We know our peer support is life changing for women and families, and that it massively helps with the isolation, grief, and stigma people experience when they have had PP”.

To find out more about the London Peer Support Worker role, please click here.

If you have been affected by postpartum psychosis and you live in the London area, please join the APP network for updates here.

If you have been affected by suicide relating to postpartum psychosis, you can find out about our new bereavement support group here.

If you are from an MBU or Perinatal Team in the London area, please sign up for our MBU newsletter here.

About City Bridge Foundation

City Bridge Foundation is a world-class bridge owner responsible for five Thames crossings – including the iconic Tower Bridge – and London’s biggest independent charity funder.

It awards over £30 million a year in grants to charitable organisations across London and has made a further £200 million available over the five years to 2026 to support the capital’s charity sector.

City Bridge Foundation has been bridging London and connecting communities for over 900 years. Its sole trustee is the City of London Corporation – the governing body for the Square Mile.

www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk

29 February 2024

Action on Postpartum Psychosis launches nationwide awareness campaign with billboards across the UK

In a groundbreaking move to raise awareness about postpartum psychosis, the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is launching a powerful billboard campaign across the United Kingdom throughout March. The impactful initiative has been made possible through the support of the JCDecaux Community Channel and the creative design expertise of agency Mother.

Postpartum psychosis is a treatable medical emergency that affects new mothers, occurring within the first few weeks or months after childbirth. Raising awareness about this illness is crucial to ensure timely intervention and support for the mums and families affected.

The new billboard campaign aims to raise awareness about the condition and signpost to the resources and support APP offers. In addition, there will be a week of billboards promoting an appeal on behalf of the charity by author and APP ambassador Laura Dockrill which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 24th March.

The visually striking designs have been crafted with the pro-bono help of Mother, a renowned creative agency, and developed with leading academic experts as well as those with lived experience of postpartum psychosis. They seek to capture attention and prompt conversation on a scale that hasn’t been achieved before.

Working in partnership with the JCDecaux Community Channel, the campaign is running across digital billboards in major cities across the UK, amplifying the reach of APP's message. More than one million people a week are expected to see the billboards, which will be in high traffic areas.

Chris Dooley, Head of Social Impact at JCDecaux UK, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with APP to raise awareness around postpartum psychosis and the support the charity offers to all those affected. The JCDecaux Community Channel creates real value through the power of the public screen and aims to amplify Out-of-Home’s role as a force for good in the community.”

The campaign kicks off on Monday 4th March, coinciding with International Women’s Day (8th) and Mother’s Day (10th). APP’s appeal with author and APP ambassador Laura Dockrill will be on BBC Radio 4 on 24th March.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis would like to thank the JCDecaux Community Channel and Mother for their invaluable support.

As we embark on this impactful campaign, APP is encouraging people to join the conversation on social media. If you see one of the billboards (and it’s safe to do so) please take a picture or video and share, tagging @ActionOnPP.

You can find out more about help and support with postpartum psychosis here.

To donate to APP’s Radio 4 appeal during appeal week, starting 24th March, visit the Radio 4 Appeal webpage or search online for BBC Radio 4 Appeal.

There are lots of ways to support us and get involved with APP. We'd love you to join us. Sign up to our network here.

16 November 2023

APP November newsletter

November 2023 newsletter

Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Unit news

We are delighted with the news this week that Belfast Trust has been chosen as the site of a Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). APP would like to thank Oorlagh Quinn, our NI Regional Rep, and all the families who have bravely shared stories to show why an MBU is so important.

But we are not there yet – there has been no funding allocated, no timeline given and no plans for women who develop PP before an MBU is open. You can read APP's full statement here.

APP staff and storytellers Laura, Tara, Liz and Ellie have been in the press raising awareness and responding to the announcement.

In October 2022 we worked with the Women's Resource and Development Agency to present an open letter to then Health Minister Robin Swann, signed by 40 mental health and parenting organisations, calling for an MBU, as well as a public petition with almost 7,000 signatures.

#MumBabyTogetherNI

Café groups news

The next UK-wide café group meeting will be on Thursday 7th December at 7.30pm. We have seen lots of interest in this group – thank you to everyone who has attended so far. To find out more or sign up, email app@app-network.org.

The next café group for Muslim women who have experienced PP will be on 5th December, starting at 12.30pm. To sign up email us: app@app-network.org.

Our 10 regional café groups continue to meet regularly, both virtually and face-to-face. The groups are attended both by those newly recovering from PP and those who have recovered many years ago. If you are interested in joining any of the groups – in Manchester, Wales, Sussex & Hampshire, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Yorkshire, North East & North Cumbria, Lancashire & Cumbria, Birmingham and London - please email app@app-network.org.

The dads and co-parents group meets on the third Wednesday of every month (apart from December) and is for people who have supported a partner through PP. Our grandparents group meets approximately six times a year. If you would like to be on the mailing list for either of these groups, please email app@app-network.org.

APP 2023 peer support survey

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our 2023 peer support survey.

The results show APP’s peer support service continues to be life-saving and an essential ingredient in recovery.

Respondents accessed our peer support for a variety of reasons: 82% had experienced postpartum psychosis (PP), 16% were a partner or family member of someone who had experienced PP, 2% were at risk of PP or ‘other reason’.

The most common reasons for accessing APP’s peer support services were: looking for help and support (66%), wanting to connect with others with similar experiences (62%), and wanting to join a community of women and families with experience of PP (53%).

For respondents for whom the question was relevant, since finding APP:

99% felt more supported
96% felt less isolated
97% felt more informed about PP
87% felt less negative about PP
94% felt more hopeful about the future and 97% felt that APP had helped, or was helping, them to recover.
46% felt they ‘might not be alive if I had not found APP's peer support services’.

“The support APP provides is life saving and life changing. APP’s service means community to me - from picnics, to fundraising events to cafe groups I’ve always felt included. All staff and volunteers inspire me every day - keep doing the amazing work you do APP!”

“As a partner, being able to utilise the forums and, in particular, use the virtual cafe to chat to other Dads has been brilliant and made me feel much happier and positive about the future. I think,
especially so far as mums are concerned, that sometimes there isn't anyone to turn to and having the option of a dedicated service for PPP where you can talk to people that have lived and breathed it could literally be a life saver during the recovery phase.”

We added new questions this year about the symptoms people experienced in relation to their episode of PP.

Did you experience, or do you currently experience, any of the following in relation to your episode(s) of PP?		If yes, has APP’s peer support service helped with this symptom? (% responding Yes)
Anxiety	98%	*96%*
Depression	90%	*98%*
Further episode(s) of psychosis	36%	*94%*
Ongoing bipolar illness / symptoms	37%	*94%*
Intrusive thoughts	71%	*84%*
Suicidal thoughts	51%	*83%*

Additional questions were also included to find out more about difficulties people have with practical and legal issues because of PP. We will be working with a specialist to follow up these findings and explore the need for specialist support and advice around such issues.

Health professional training: book for 2024!

Book now for APP’s future health professional training days. Our workshops are highly rated by attendees, with 100% rating them as excellent/good and 100% saying they would recommend them to colleagues:

"Really brilliant session. Balanced, informed, inspiring, emotional. So raw and real and yet very professional and contained. Best training I've attended in a very long time.”

Supporting dads and co-parents affected by postpartum psychosis

This online workshop is informed by real life experiences of dads and co-parents whose partners have experienced postpartum psychosis. At the end of the workshop, you will be aware of the research on partners; have a deep understanding of the needs of dads and co-parents; and have considered strategies and interventions to improve support.

Friday 8th March 2024 / Zoom
10am – 12.30pm BST
£99
Find out more & book.

Insider Guides translated into 5 languages

All three APP Insider Guides – Recovery after PP; PP: a Guide for Partners; and Planning Pregnancy after PP – are now available in Arabic, Bengali, Polish, Slovak and Urdu on our website.

We’d like to thank Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust for funding the translation work.

APP is continually seeking ways to translate our guides into multiple languages to ensure the information in them is accessible to everyone who needs it. If you would like to help us, please get in touch.

We are recruiting

APP is recruiting casual Peer Support Worker(s) to join our innovative collaborative project with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT).

We’re looking for people with lived experience of postpartum psychosis to help support women, one-to-one and through small group activities, at the MBU. Peer Support Workers also spend time talking to partners and families, sharing information, giving hope and signposting to APP’s online support, community forum, and information. Part of the role will be spent helping to run monthly café groups in the region. You don’t need to have experience of peer supporting. Training will be provided.

Full details of how to apply for the role are on our website. The application deadline is midnight on 26th November 2023.

Thank you, volunteers

It’s International Volunteer Day on Tuesday 5th December and we would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who volunteers for APP.

Our volunteers make a huge contribution to our work and we couldn’t do what we do without them.

Peer Support volunteers connect with women and families throughout the UK via our forum; social media; one to one email, video call and telephone support; our NHS partnership projects and regional café groups.

Media volunteers help to raise awareness of postpartum psychosis, our charity and our campaigns by telling their stories in the press, on social media websites, television and radio.

Regional Reps connect with health professional teams locally, disseminating information, support patient involvement in developing NHS services and giving lived experience talks.

Fundraising volunteers plan events and come up with fundraising ideas to support our work.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering for APP you can find out how to get involved here.

Fundraising

Thank you to everyone who donated as part of our Big Give campaign last month. We were delighted to reach our target of £5000 in just one week! This will go towards our work supporting women and families from diverse communities. Look out for more ‘double your donation’ opportunities in 2024.

Thank you, Laura! A massive thank you to Laura Walton from Darlington, who ran 50 miles during October, raising over £700 for APP! Laura also generously shared her own experiences of postpartum psychosis with us to help raise awareness. You can read more about her story here. Laura completed her amazing challenge with a fabulous purple party for family and friends! Thank you, Laura!

Time for a festive Big Bake?

Inspired by the amazing looking cakes at Laura’s party? Why not get your friends, family, or colleagues together this winter for a festive afternoon tea, a mince pie bake off or a Christmas Cake decorating competition? Get your FREE festive Big Bake pack (including the APP team's favourite recipes!) by emailing fundraising@app-network.org
We can't wait to hear about what you have planned! www.app-network.org/get-involved-with-app/fundraise-for-us/the-big-bake/

Festive cards

If you're looking for Christmas or Hanukkah cards... Buy your cards this year from www.bit.ly/APPcards and APP will receive a donation with every purchase, plus each card helps raise awareness of PP. There are hundreds of designs to choose from, including these images exclusively designed for APP by our supporter Gillian Seale. You can add photos, personalised messages and even games. Choose individual cards, packs of cards or e-cards - and send them directly to the recipient or to yourself. Thank you!

Christmas shopping

Don’t forget to sign up to use easyfundraising when you do your Christmas online shopping this year. Over 7,500 brands including eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos and M&S will donate to APP for FREE when you use easyfundraising to shop with them. So you can raise donations for us when you buy anything from decorations and festive food shopping to gifts like toys, jewellery, tech, experiences and more! These donations really help us. It only takes a minute to sign up: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/actiononpp

Looking for a new challenge in 2024?

We have access to hundreds of running events from fun family friendly 5ks to full marathons here in the UK and even overseas! We already have people signed up for the London Landmarks, Brighton Marathon, Paris Half and of course the APP team taking part in the Manchester Colour Rush event… and we’d love for you to join our running team! Find out more here: www.app-network.org/get-involved-with-app/take-on-a-challenge-to-fundraise-for-app

Dates for your diary

APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 18th November: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Yorkshire face to face café group meet up in Leeds, Saturday 18th November: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Scotland virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 21st November: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Black Country face to face café group meet up in Walsall, Tuesday 28th November: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Sussex and Hampshire virtual café group meet up, Thursday 30th November: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Muslim women’s virtual café group meet up, Monday 4th December: APP regional café groups webpage

International Volunteer Day, Tuesday 5th December

APP UK-wide virtual café group meet up, Thursday 7th December: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 8th December: APP regional café groups webpage

APP Book Club virtual meeting, Wednesday 13th March 2024. Discussing Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood by Lucy Jones. Book your free place here.

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