Action on Postpartum Psychosis

Claire's half marathon in memory of her friend, Orlaith

Claire Tennyson is taking on the Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Half Marathon this July, in memory of her dear friend Orlaith Quinn.

Claire says:

'This October will mark five years since Orlaith left us.
Orlaith was charismatic, compassionate, fiercely loyal, full of sass and an absolute stunner. There are people in life you instantly connect with, and for me, she was one of them.
Orlaith’s passing was found by a court to be 'foreseeable and preventable' and at the time of the hearing the coroner also called for a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) to be established in Northern Ireland.
In the absence of a functioning Executive, the possibility of this being developed in the near future is very slim but APP are continuing to do all they can to push for reform.
In that context, I want to raise money in the interim for this very worthwhile charity to assist in the support they give mothers, mothers-to-be and mothers yet to come.
It is the biggest honour of my life to be a mother and for that privilege to have been so cruelly cut short for Orlaith, and her children, is heart breaking.
So please donate if you can, share to raise awareness, and most importantly of all spare a thought for Orlaith.  She is missed.'

You can support Claire here.

Also taking part in the Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Running Festival is APP volunteer Lucy who will be challenging herself to complete the 10K event on the day. Find out more and add your support for Lucy here.

Miles for Mums and Babies in Northern Ireland

We have two teams taking on our #MilesforMumsandBabies Challenge in Northern Ireland this year.

On the 13th May, Justine Lewis and a team of friends will be attempting to climb Cavehill - a challenging 1,207ft peak just outside Belfast.

Justine was diagnosed with PP after the birth of her baby in 2019, and due to the lack of MBU in NI, she was separated from her newborn for 12 days. She is undertaking this challenge to raise awareness of the need for an MBU in the area.

You can add your support for Justine here.

Then, later in the month, Shelley Browne and a group of friends will be running 5k at Stormont to highlight the fact that 1 in 5 women will experience some form of mental health issue in the postnatal period.

Shelley had PP in 2021 and really wants to raise awareness of the need for an MBU in NI. She says: 'I truly believe with this facility, my treatment would of been less traumatic and I would have not have needed to be separated from my baby so early on.'

Support Shelley and her team here.

Not only are our NI APP volunteers getting out and about fundraising for us this year, they're also helping to raise awareness of PP:

Tara helps to raise awareness in Garvargh

On Wednesday 22^nd March, one of our Northern Ireland based APP volunteers arranged for an awareness-raising session at a local Women’s Group she attends. She didn’t want to talk about her own experiences with PP herself, as not everyone is comfortable or finds it helpful to do that, which is fine. So, working with APP's events and fundraising staff, she invited along another local APP volunteer who very bravely talked to the group about her experiences of PP.

Staff from APP HQ also zoomed in to the session to explain more generally about PP, the work of APP and the need for an MBU in Northern Ireland. The Women’s Group, which included both local women and health & social care professionals, were very interested and moved to hear the first-hand account of a real women’s experience of PP, as many were previously unaware of the condition.

Very positive feedback was received from the group:

“…she is a brave young woman, speaking out to help others. Thank you.”

“Very brave lady to be able to talk about everything she has been through. Can’t have been easy to do that”

“…she was lovely and very good at speaking about her experience.”

“…she definitely was very good and spoke well, and we got a lot of knowledge about this condition.”

“…it’s such a hard thing to talk about. It’s helped me understand a lot better and what to keep an eye out for.”

“…she is amazing and to be able to come and speak about her experiences so honestly will truly help women as there is still stigma around mental health.”

The local health visitor and social worker were invited to the session and already are asking if further sessions can be put on around the area for other teams of professionals and women around Northern Ireland.

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If you'd like to find out more about raising awareness or fundraising in Northern Ireland, or accessing our peer support group, please contact app@app-network.org 

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (MMHAW) runs from Monday 1st to Sunday 7th May. We would love to get as many people involved as possible.

We want more people talking about postpartum psychosis (PP) - the signs and symptoms to look for, and what’s needed to support recovery. We want to ensure that no-one affected by PP feels alone and everyone knows where they can turn to for help and support. We’ll be sharing personal stories, signposting to support, information and advice, and raising awareness of PP. 

In addition to #MaternalMentalHealthAwarenessWeek, organised by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, there will be a focused World Maternal Mental Health Day (Wed 3rd) and Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis #PPPAwareness Day (Fri 5th). The theme for the full week is 'Together In A Changing World'.

For updates follow @ActionOnPP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Read on for details of the special events we’ve organised in support of the week.

Events for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

Creative Writing - A Lived Experience Workshop with Laura Dockrill, Monday 1st May 12.30 – 1.30pm

If you have personal experience of PP, join this free and fun lunchtime creative writing workshop on zoom with Author and APP Ambassador, Laura Dockrill. In a warm, gentle, no-pressure environment, Laura will explore writing for you and your wellbeing. All you need is something to write with and on. 

Join APP’s network and book your place here.

The session is free – donations are welcome.

“If you have experience of postpartum psychosis, I HIGHLY recommend joining this soul nourishing session. Whether you are a poet, writer, or have never written a jot before, Laura will nurture your creative side in a low stress, fun environment.” Dr Jess Heron

Free webinar: 'Postpartum Psychosis: From research to recovery' – Thursday 4th May 12-1pm

Join APP and the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) to hear about the latest postpartum psychosis research and find out how you can help.

You’ll hear from researchers and those with Lived Experience, including: Director of the National Centre for Mental Health Cardiff, Professor Ian Jones; APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron (University of Birmingham); Dr Sally Wilson (APP Research & Training Coordinator); and Laura Dockrill (APP Ambassador) as well as from researchers from: the National Centre for Mental Health; University of East Anglia; and University of Birmingham’s Institute of Mental Health about a range of new studies. 

Find out more and book here.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day – Friday 5th May

The importance of Peer Support for PP

Join APP and US charities Cherished Mom and Postpartum Support International for one of three global virtual meet-ups for women with experience of PP as part of Pregnancy & Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day 2023 (1am, 10.30am and 5pm BST).

The APP peer support team will co-facilitate the 10.30am and 5pm sessions (UK time).

If you would like to meet others and find out more about PP around the world, book your free place on Eventbrite here.

New postpartum psychosis toolkit for antenatal educators

During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we will launch a free online toolkit to support midwives and antenatal educators.  

The toolkit will help antenatal educators deliver brief, but potentially life-saving, information about postpartum psychosis (PP) to parents-to-be in antenatal classes.

We’ve worked with families affected by PP and antenatal education providers to produce the toolkit. 

A YouGov Survey in 2021 found that only 6% of expectant parents were given information about PP at their antenatal classes, but a survey carried out by APP in 2022 found that 88% of antenatal providers felt it should be included.

A big thank you everyone who has been involved so far. Special thanks go to Richard Baish, his friends and family for supporting the development of this toolkit.

Follow @ActionOnPP across social media channels to hear when the toolkit is launched and please help us share the news. 

During the week, you can listen to APP’s Dr Sally Wilson and Naomi Gilbert talking to PMHP’s Eve Canavan about the research behind the campaign and read Zebi's blog in collaboration with pregnancy charity, Tommy’s showing the importance of hearing about PP before it happens.

Signs and Symptoms posters available

Our Signs and Symptoms graphic has been updated and is now also available as an A4 printed or downloadable poster. 

If you could display one in your maternity hospital, GP surgery, mother and baby group, Mother and Baby Unit, or perinatal mental health clinic, please get in touch.

We can send you up to 10 posters free but if you feel you could support us to cover the cost of postage you can donate here.

Northern Ireland (NI) Mother and Baby Unit campaign

We’re continuing to work with NI charity Maternal Advocacy and Support and 40 other organisations to campaign for a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Northern Ireland.  

Watch the video of our petition hand in here. 

The government scoping report into a NI MBU due out in March has been delayed until the end of May. We look forward to reviewing plans, timeframes and interim solutions for families with PP in NI whilst we await a NI MBU.

If you’re in NI, join our peer support group to meet others, give and receive peer support, and help with campaigning. You could also join #TeamAPP at the Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival on 30th July this year. Email fundraising@app-network.org for more info or to reserve your place.

APP café groups during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

Our regional peer support café groups for women and families affected by PP meet monthly and are a mixture of virtual sessions and face to face meet-ups. You can attend whether you are newly recovering or recovered many years ago. They are a social place to chat, support each other, as well as to share ideas about improving the future for others affected by PP. 

Our Black Country and Wales café groups are meeting in Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. If you are interested in joining these or any of the other APP café groups – in Sussex & Hampshire, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, North East, Lancashire & Cumbria, and London - please fill out this form or email app@app-network.org. New members are always welcome.

We also run a virtual peer group for dads and co-parents on the third Wednesday of every month for people who have supported a partner through PP. The next meeting is on 17th May. Our grandparents group meets approximately six times a year, with the next meeting on 11th May. If you would like to be on the mailing list for either of these groups, please email app@app-network.org.

You can find the dates of the next meet ups for all our café groups here.

Health Professional Training

A new date for APP online Health Professional training in postpartum psychosis has been released. 

Book for the 15th November course here.

Onsite training days can also be commissioned by individual NHS Trusts or other workplaces for their teams. To find out more, get in touch: training@app-network.org 

Plan your Big Bake for APP 

Could you organise a Big Bake this May and help raise funds for APP?

Host an informal afternoon tea, have a coffee break together or organise a bake-off competition with friends, family or colleagues. It’s a lovely way to start a conversation about mental health and PP and raise funds for APP at the same time. 

If you pay it in between 15th-22nd May using the following link, the amount you raise will be DOUBLED with match funding from The Big Give Kind²Mind 2023 campaign. 

For more info and a Big Bake fundraising pack, email fundraising@app-network.org

Miles for Mums and Babies

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to be part of our Miles for Mums and Babies challenge this year – we’ve got more people than ever before involved –  individuals and teams all over the UK running, walking, swimming, cycling and toddling hundreds of miles to raise awareness and funds. 

Well done to Rob Rowe (pictures above, left hand side) and Natalie Varley (pictures above, right hand side) who have both completed marathons for APP this month - Rob running in Brighton and Natalie in Manchester - between them they raised over £3,000 for APP! An amazing achievement - both were first time marathon runners! 

We’ll be posting a round-up of everyone taking part in Miles for Mums and Babies soon so keep an eye on our social media pages and add your support if you can – and it’s definitely not too late to join in if you’d like to – email fundraising@app-network.org.

The Big Give
We’re delighted to have been successful again in applying for match funding from the Big Give – this means all donations we receive via our Big Give Kind²Mind 2023 campaign page between 12pm on the 15th May and 12pm on 22nd May will be DOUBLED! We’ll send another reminder nearer the time but do share our social media posts if you spot them – this year our campaign is focused on support for dads and co-parents.  

Thank you so much to everyone who is fundraising for APP at the moment – we are so grateful to all of you and your supporters. Every donation makes a real difference.

Dates for your diary

APP Black Country face to face café group meet up at Walsall Arboretum, Wednesday 3rd May: APP regional café groups webpage 

World Maternal Mental Health Day, Wednesday 3rd May: www.wmmhday.postpartum.net

APP Wales virtual café group meet up, Thursday 4th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

International Day Of The Midwife, Friday 5th May: www.internationalmidwives.org/icm-events/international-day-of-the-midwife-2023.html

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 8th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 10th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Grandparents virtual café group meet up, Thursday 11th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 12th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

Mental Health Awareness Week, 15th-21st May: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

The Big Give match funding campaign, 15th-22nd May: Big Give Kind²Mind 2023 

APP Dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 17th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP London virtual café group meet up, Thursday 18th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 19th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Northern Ireland virtual café group meet up, Monday 22nd May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Tuesday 23rd May: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Sussex and Hampshire virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 24th May: APP regional café groups webpage 

Volunteers' Week, 1st-7th June: www.volunteersweek.org

APP Sussex and Hampshire virtual café group meet up, Thursday 8th June: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 9th June: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 12th June: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 14th June: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 16th June: APP regional café groups webpage 

Thank you so much to siblings Natalie and Rob for sharing their story with us.

Rob is running his first ever marathon this weekend in Brighton to help raise funds for and awareness of APP.

We were so inspired after speaking to both Rob and Nat that we asked them to share a few words about their experiences and what they mean to each other.

Nat:
'I am Natalie, Rob’s sister. I’m so proud and thrilled for Rob to be running the 2023 Brighton Marathon. He has dug deep in his physical and mental limits during his dedicated training and it has been inspiring for me to see.

APP is a charity that means a lot to our family as I was diagnosed with Postpartum Psychosis six years ago. After a very happy and healthy pregnancy I gave birth to my son Finn in May of 2017. Seven days later I was admitted to the mother and baby unit at Royal Bethlam hospital and stayed there for three months.

It was a scary time for us all as we had never heard of Postpartum Psychosis and I was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar, but I’m pleased to say that with treatment and tremendous support I have made a full recovery and lead a very happy life.

APP are doing a great job of raising awareness of this illness that so many have never heard of. They provide amazing support to affected mums and families when they need it most and I want my story to provide hope to those reading this.'

Rob:
'I’m so excited to be running my first marathon this week and feel really proud to be representing APP.

It’s so important that we raise awareness for Postpartum Psychosis as it affects families without any warning. My sister was the last person I expected to be visiting in hospital but I’m so happy to say that she’s now living her best life and is the best version of herself that I’ve ever seen.

It goes to show how important the right support and treatment is and that everyone affected by Postpartum Psychosis should have hope for a healthy and happy future.

My sister’s strength and resilience inspires me every day and will be fuelling me on my run; can’t wait!'

You can add your support to Rob as he runs the Brighton Marathon this weekend by visiting his JustGiving page.

Happy Mother's Day

The APP team would like to wish you a very happy Mother’s Day for Sunday. 

However you plan to spend the day, we hope it will be a special time for you. If you would like to support APP, you can buy your Mother's Day cards at Making A Difference Cards. Browse a huge selection of both virtual and actual cards, personalise, add photos, messages and puzzles here.

For those who find the day difficult or are remembering mums who are no longer with us, APP is here to support you. Our volunteers are on the forum every day of the year, or you can request email or video call support here.  

Health professional training

Book now for APP’s one-day postpartum psychosis training on 27th March. The online training is led by APP's expert trainers, including:
• Professor Ian Jones (Professor of Psychiatry, world-leading academic in postpartum psychosis, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist);
• Dr Sally Wilson (National Training Lead at Action on Postpartum Psychosis);
• Dr Jessica Heron (APP Chief Executive and Senior Research Fellow in Perinatal Psychiatry at Birmingham University).

The workshop is suitable for any health professionals working with pregnant and postnatal women and families. It draws upon cutting-edge research into PP and bipolar disorder as well as the real experiences of women and families. The course develops knowledge and confidence in identifying postpartum psychosis, managing risk, developing pregnancy and postnatal management plans and supporting women and families during recovery. 

Find out more and book here: https://bit.ly/APPTraining2023

Richard’s cycle ride

If you follow APP on social media, you will probably have seen Richard Baish’s incredibly inspiring and moving video, shared with us last month.

Richard is on a mission to raise £50,000 for APP to help fund training about PP for frontline healthcare professionals, and to raise awareness, particularly in the antenatal period.  He is raising money in memory of his amazing wife Alex who tragically died last year.

At the end of May, Richard and a group of friends will be cycling from Glasgow all the way to Witney in Oxfordshire. His training is in full swing and we are all so inspired by his dedication and positivity. 

With his video and social media work, Richard has already done so much to raise awareness, and this is already making a difference to so many lives. Friends, family, colleagues and even people who have never met the family or heard of APP have been moved by his story and thanks to all of them, he is over halfway to reaching his fundraising target. We can't thank him enough for his support for APP.

We'll keep you updated on his fundraising and cycling progress each month. Please do add your support to his campaign and help him and APP create a lasting legacy for Alex.

Media Trust Women’s voices event 

On International Women’s Day, APP's Jessie (APP Marketing and Digital Communications Coordinator) and Fliss (Fundraiser) took part in the Media Trust Women’s Voices event at Google HQ in London. Thirty inspiring charities that support, campaign and advocate for women and girls were invited to take part, along with 150 volunteers from media, comms and creative backgrounds.

APP was given the support of comms and media industry experts from Ogilvy, Initiative and Sense Marketing to work on our Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week campaign, identifying creative ways to increase its reach and impact. Jessie was also given the opportunity to speak at the event about APP, raising awareness of PP and our work.

Thank you to Media Trust for the opportunity, and our volunteer team for their hard work and creativity (pictured above).

Bipolar Commission Survey

The Bipolar Commission is asking people aged 18 and over who are living with bipolar to take part in a survey on hypersexual behaviour. 

The survey takes about 20 minutes and all data collected will be anonymised. 

If you can help, you can take the survey here. It’s open until the end of this month. 

Media and film

Radio 4 broadcast ‘Shocking’, a documentary about ECT featuring Tania Gergel, Director of Research at Bipolar UK in February. The programme is now available as a podcast: BBC Radio 4 - Shocking.

BBC World Service featured The Comb, the story of a Kenyan mother’s experience of PP. Listen here.

Irene's Ghost (pictured above), a film supported by APP, will be screened on 21st April at Leicester’s Phoenix as part of the REAL Documentary festival. The film is a moving portrayal of the intricacies of family life, and the impact of the things we don't discuss. Part documentary and part animation, it follows Iain Cunningham’s search to find out about the mother he never knew. Iain will be talking about his story as part of the screening. Tickets will be available from 1st April. 

Fundraising

A huge thank you to our amazing fundraisers who have been busy this month completing some epic challenges! Lee Smith has overcome illness to get back to his mission and is running 5k every day for a month right now – find out more and support him here.

APP volunteers Chris and Natalie Wasley (pictured above) spent a very cold Saturday in March walking more than 16 miles along a costal path from their home to the MBU where Natalie spent time after their baby was born. They raised nearly £1,000 to be shared between APP and Florence House MBU – and even managed to fit in an ice cream or two along the way!

Matt and Amy Shaw ran the Shrewsbury 10k last Sunday – raising money for APP to say thank you for the support the family received when his wife Katherine was ill after the birth of their son. Katherine has shared her story with APP here to help raise awareness and there’s still time to support Matt via his fundraising page. 

Next month we have runners taking on big events for APP – Rob Rowe will be taking part in the Brighton Marathon and Natalie Varley in the Manchester Marathon. We know they are training hard right now and we’re so grateful for their commitment and dedication. Please do add your support to their fundraising pages if you can and if you fancy going along and supporting them in person on the days, do let us know!

We still have places available in lots of running, walking and other events throughout the year and across the country – we even have our first ever bungee jumper signed up for an event this summer. Or maybe you’d like to get involved with Miles for Mums and Babies this May? Pick an activity (running, cycling, walking, swimming, toddling…) and a number of miles (maybe the distance to your nearest MBU for example) and get sponsored to complete that distance – you could even rope in family, friends or colleagues and make it a team challenge. It’s a fantastic way to raise awareness of PP. Sign up now and we'll send you our Miles for Mums and Babies fundraising pack. Commit to raising more than £50 and we'll provide you with a free running vest and other goodies to help you reach your target.

Fancy taking on a challenge to raise funds for APP? Get in touch and we can provide you with lots of ideas and inspiration.

We have a limited collection of beautiful handmade glass suncatchers, lovingly made for APP by a very kind and talented supporter. They would make a lovely gift for someone special. We're asking for a suggested donation, and all the proceeds will come directly to APP to help us continue to support mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis. Find out more here. 

To reserve yours, email fundraising@app-network.org - stock is very limited so be quick! 

Research studies currently recruiting

Exploring Black mother’s experiences of postpartum psychosis and the role of racism

APP is supporting Emily Monger, a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Essex, who is exploring the experiences of postpartum psychosis for Black mothers, and how the role of racism and/or discrimination may have impacted women’s recovery for women. She is looking for women in the UK, aged 18+ who identify as being from a Black background and who have experience of PP to take part in her study. To find out more email em21633@essex.ac.uk

New psychological intervention to support women and families who have experienced postpartum psychosis

A research team at the University of East Anglia, led by Dr Jo Hodgekins, would like to talk to partners of women who have experienced PP. The research team is interested in learning more about what ‘recovery’ means to people with lived experience of psychosis and their families and the kinds of issues people would like additional support with, and what this support might look like. For more information, email j.hodgekins@uea.ac.uk.

The role of sleep in the development of postpartum psychosis

Birmingham University is looking for women with experience of postpartum psychosis to take part in a study to find out more about the role of sleep in the development of PP. Participants will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires about their mental health and sleep patterns, as well as participate in a focus group. For more information or to take part in the study, email: I.Morales-Munoz@bham.ac.uk or c.a.f.carr@bham.ac.uk

Inpatient hospital stays for women with postpartum psychosis

We are supporting Helen Allen, a PhD student at Bournemouth University, who is planning research exploring the experiences of inpatient hospital stay during postpartum psychosis. She is recruiting women with lived experience to help shape her research. Thank you to those who have already expressed an interest in taking part. Spaces are still available. For more information, email Helen at: helena@bournemouth.ac.uk.

If you are a researcher and would like us to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning: research@app-network.org.

Dates for your diary

APP Dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 15th March: APP regional café groups webpage 

Mother's Day, Sunday 19th March

World Storytelling Day, Monday 20th March 

World Poetry Day, Tuesday 21st March

APP North east and Cumbria to face café group meet up, Monday 27th March: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria to face café group meet up, Tuesday 28th March: APP regional café groups webpage 

World Bipolar Day, Thursday 30th March: https://www.bipolaruk.org/bipolar-awareness-day 

APP Black Country face to face café group meet up, Wednesday 5th April: APP regional café groups webpage 

APP Birmingham face to face café group meet up, Thursday 20th April: APP regional café groups webpage 

Events

Bipolar UK conference, Thursday 30th March

Free conference on World Bipolar Day 2023 featuring world-leading expert talks, lived-experience insights and interviews. Book tickets here.

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Show, Thursday 11th May

More than 60 charities, organisations and companies will be promoting their resources, services and initiatives designed to support positive mental health and wellbeing at Cardiff City Hall. 50% discount with code MHWYear (before 31st January). Book tickets here.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch. 

Sign up to receive updates

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Mother's Day is just around the corner and you might be trying to think of the perfect gift for someone special in your life. 

We may have the answer!  We have a limited collection of these beautiful handmade glass suncatchers, lovingly made for APP by a very kind and talented supporter.  We're asking for a suggested donation (details below), and all the proceeds will come directly to APP to help us continue to support mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis.

Robin - 18cm by 14cm - suggested donation £25 including p&p

Kingfisher - 13cm by 20cm - suggested donation £25 including p&p

Angel - 20cm by 20cm - suggested donation £40 including p&p

To buy yours, email fundraising@app-network.org - stock is very limited so be quick! And make sure your order is with us by Monday 13th March if you want it to arrive in time for Mother's Day.

On Saturday 4th March, parents Chris and Natalie Wasley will be walking a costal half marathon - trekking nearly 14 miles from Florence House MBU - where Natalie and her baby spent three months in 2019 - to Hengistbury Head and back again.

The Wasleys are experienced fundraisers having already completed a 10K in 2021. Everything they raise from their mammoth walk will be split between APP and Florence House.

Chris, Natalie and Chris's mum are all involved with APP via our peer support schemes for  mums, dads and grandparents, and we want to say a huge thank you to them for all they do for APP.

Chris says: "We are really looking forward to our walk, though we are really hoping that the English weather is on our side!  The walk is all along the coast, so we are being hopeful for glorious sunshine and lots of ice creams along the way!

We decided to do another fundraiser for APP and our MBU because there is no better cause. Having experienced postpartum psychosis and it being ever present in our lives we are so grateful to APP and the MBUs for all the work they do.  We really feel it is important to give something back to them and to carry on raising awareness of this rare and serious but treatable mental health illness."

You can read more about their story, and add your support here: www.bit.ly/theWasleys

We're delighted that Rob Rowe has chosen to support APP with his first ever full length marathon run.  He'll be taking on the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 2nd April and he's currently training hard to be ready for the big day.

Rob tells us why he chose to support APP, and what a positive impact running has had on his mental health:

"I began running more regularly in 2020 as an effort to stay fit during lockdown and to improve my mental health; I quickly noticed a big difference and have been hooked ever since. I've set myself goals each year in order to push myself further which resulted in running 1,500km in 2022 whilst completing my first organised half marathon.

I want to challenge myself even further in 2023 by running a full marathon whilst raising money for a charity that works for a cause close to my heart. APP was the obvious choice for me as someone that has experienced Postpartum Psychosis through a loved one and has seen first hand the affect it can have, and how much help APP provides to those affected."

Find out more and add your support to keep Rob going all the way to the finish line: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-rowe6 

Fancy joining Rob and giving the Brighton Marathon a go for APP? You have until the end of February to register for a place - click here for more info.

New year challenges for APP

Are you looking for a challenge in 2023? There are so many ways you can support APP in this year – from skydives and bungee jumps to inflatable obstacle fun runs, marathons, duathlons, ultras, cycle rides and so much more!

You could get a group of friends, family or colleagues together and complete an event as a team or go solo and take on a personal challenge.

We now have access to hundreds of races, fun runs, jumps, rides and other events all over the country (and even overseas if you fancy it!)

Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking…

• Winter Warmer runs – 5k, 10k and half marathon options taking place throughout February in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Richmond, Milton Keynes.
• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k or half marathon – 5th March - a road closed half marathon and 10k starts and finishes at the home of the 2012 London Olympics.
• Colchester Zoo Stampede 10k – 14th May - a unique opportunity to run a 10k that starts in the heart of the Zoo - between the rhinos, elephants, giraffes and zebras!
• Hull Half Marathon - 11th June - This new half marathon features a thrilling city centre start and finish and a largely flat course, offering great PB potential.
• ASICS London 10k – 9th July - Dash past iconic central London sights Big Ben, the London Eye and the River Thames in a 10K race to remember.
• Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival 5k and 10K – 24th July - one for our supporters in Northern Ireland, a closed roads event starting and finishing within the beautiful grounds of Hillsborough Castle.

These are just a few of the hundreds of races and activities we have access to – or of course you can come up with your own challenge as part of our Miles for Mums and Babies campaign.

• Registration fees and fundraising targets vary depending on the event, so let us know if you’re interested in any of these and we’ll give you the full details.
• Got an idea already, ready to sign up, or want us to inspire you? Contact fundraising@app-network.org – we’re here to support you through your training and to help you reach your fundraising goals.

A huge thank you to the fundraisers who have already got 2023 off to an amazing start - Rachel Evans has been running every single day this month, covering a total of 90miles; Hannah Galloway has cycled over 100km on her static bike and Lee Smith and his sister Donna completed 100,000 steps in 24 hours on 2nd Jan (just one of his amazing 12 challenges for APP!). A massive thank you to them and to everyone who has supported them in their challenges.

Health Professional Training

Book now for APP’s one-day postpartum psychosis training and take advantage of our early-bird rate.

The online training is led by APP's expert trainers, including:

• Professor Ian Jones (Professor of Psychiatry, world-leading academic in postpartum psychosis, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist);
• Dr Sally Wilson (National Training Lead at Action on Postpartum Psychosis);
• Dr Jessica Heron (APP Chief Executive and Senior Research Fellow in Perinatal Psychiatry at Birmingham University)

The workshop is suitable for any health professionals working with pregnant and postnatal women and families. It draws upon cutting-edge research into PP and bipolar disorder as well as the real experiences of women and families.

The course develops knowledge and confidence in identifying postpartum psychosis, managing risk, developing pregnancy and postnatal management plans and supporting women and families during recovery.

Dates: Wednesday 15th February or Monday 27th March 2023. Early bird rate: £165 until 1st February (normal price £195)

Find out more and book: https://bit.ly/APPTraining2023

Antenatal class campaign

APP National Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson, attended The International Journal of Birth and Parent Education Conference on 23rd January, hosted by the University of Worcester, to share information about our campaign: ‘Let's talk about postpartum psychosis in antenatal classes’.

A YouGov survey carried out by APP showed that only 6% of expectant parents were given information about postpartum psychosis at their antenatal classes. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. Rapid access to specialist perinatal treatment supports the best outcomes for mum, baby and family. We’re campaigning for information about PP to be shared at every antenatal class in the UK.

As well as highlighting APP’s campaign, Sally met lots of passionate antenatal education providers at the event and heard talks from Sally Hogg from the Parent-Infant Foundation, Dr Mary Nolan, Emerita Professor of Perinatal Education, and Lorna Philips, founder of Black Mamas Birth Village.

Email us to receive updates about our campaign, training and free resources: antenatal@app-network.org.

Pamper Packs to Mother and Baby Units

APP’s team delivered 350 festive Pamper Packs to the UK’s 22 Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in December 2022.

The packs are the idea of APP volunteer Gemma and her husband Stephen and are designed to provide a small boost to mothers who are unwell and away from family over Christmas. Each bag contained items donated by Walgreen Boots Alliance as well as APP’s peer support information.

We’re very grateful to Boots for their support - and to our new staff member, Rachel, for her hard work in organising delivery of the packs.

Pictured above, APP’s Peer Support Facilitator Jocelyn and Louise Sargeson, Assistant Occupational Therapist, dropping off the packs at Ribblemere Mother and Baby Unit.

Dr Margaret Oates

The APP team was deeply saddened to hear of the death of the hugely inspirational Dr Margaret Oates who has done so much to improve care for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis in the UK.

Read more about our memories of Margaret Oates.

Media and books

APP National Coordinator Hannah Bissett and fundraiser Lee were on BBC Radio Newcastle on 9th January (listen here from 11.15). They talked about APP’s MBU and antenatal campaigns, as well as Lee’s year-long challenge to raise awareness of PP. Lee’s story also featured on Chronicle live.

APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron talked to the Guardian on 15th January highlighting concern about a recent increase in bereaved family members contacting the charity following the death by suicide of a relative after postpartum psychosis.

'Jess Heron, the chief executive of APP, said she was concerned about the recent increase in bereaved family members contacting the charity following the death by suicide of a relative after postpartum psychosis.' - @heronjess in @guardian:https://t.co/cl5iMpL0Ee @MMHAlliance

— Action on Postpartum Psychosis (@ActionOnPP) January 16, 2023

APP also worked on a Guardian piece about the need for more Mother and Baby Units especially in underserved areas of the UK, featuring APP volunteer Toni and the family of Orlaith Quinn.

APP’s Media Consultant, Lucy Nichol, has published her new book. Snowflake: Breaking Through Mental Health Stereotypes and Stigma exposes harmful mental health stereotypes and includes a section on postpartum psychosis.

Book Club

APP’s next virtual book club meet-up will be on Tuesday 31st January, 8-9pm. We'll discuss Are You Really OK? Understanding Britain’s Mental Health Emergency by Stacey Dooley.

You can reserve a place here.

Research studies currently recruiting

Hallucinations in early motherhood study
Charlotte Close, a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at Coventry University, is looking for women who have experienced hallucinations in early motherhood to take part in her research. She would like to understand the impact of hallucinations on the experience of mothering. The study is open to women aged 18 or over, who had hallucinations in pregnancy or up to one year postnatally (in the past five years) and who have not had hallucinations in the last month. Contact Charlotte at: closec2@uni.coventry.ac.uk.

New psychological intervention to support women and families who have experienced postpartum psychosis
A research team at the University of East Anglia, led by Dr Jo Hodgekins, would like to talk to women and families to understand their experiences of recovery from PP. If you have lived experience of PP – or are a family member of someone who has – then you can take part. The research team is interested in learning more about what ‘recovery’ means to people with lived experience of psychosis and their families and the kinds of issues people would like additional support with, and what this support might look like. For more information email: j.hodgekins@uea.ac.uk.

Inpatient hospital stays for women with postpartum psychosis
Helen Allen, a PhD student at Bournemouth University, is planning research exploring the experiences of inpatient hospital stay during postpartum psychosis. She will be recruiting women with lived experience to help shape her research. For more information, including details of how to become involved, please email Helen at: helena@bournemouth.ac.uk.

If you are a researcher and would like us to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning: research@app-network.org.

Dates for your diary

• APP Book Club virtual meeting, Tuesday 31st January: Book here.
• APP Black Country face to face café group meet up, Wednesday 1st February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Lancashire & South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 8th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Yorkshire virtual café group meet up, Thursday 9th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Lancashire & South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 10th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Lancashire & South Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 13th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 15th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP Lancashire & South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 17th February: APP regional café groups webpage.
• APP North East and Cumbria face to face café group meet up, Monday 27th February: APP regional café groups webpage.

Upcoming conferences and events

Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Wednesday 1st March
The theme of this in-person conference is ‘breaking barriers’ and will highlight the perinatal mental health experiences of women and families from seldom-heard communities. Details of this Maternal Health Foundation event and the link to book tickets are here.

Meaningful Conversation - Telling stories: the brain, trauma and creativity, Wednesday 8th March
Free online event featuring experts on the brain, creativity and storytelling talking about the effects of telling stories and being creative on the brain and mental health. Register here.

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Show, Thursday 11th May
More than 60 charities, organisations and companies will be promoting their resources, services and initiatives designed to support positive mental health and wellbeing at Cardiff City Hall. 50% discount with code MHWYear (before 31st January). Book tickets here.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch.

Sign up to receive updates

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To get January 2023 off to a flying start, Rachel Evans, one of APP's fantastic team of peer supporters, has taken on the challenge of running every day this month as part of a Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge.

She's aiming to cover 90 miles in total - a number that's important to her as it's 45 miles each way from her home to Winchester Mother and Baby Unit (MBU).  This time six years ago, Rachel was admitted to Winchester MBU with PP when her baby was less than a week old.

A 90 mile round trip is a long way but many women have to travel even further in order to be treated at an MBU where they can be with their baby. Rachel says 'Today I had a good running cry to myself thinking that 45 miles is nothing compared to the distance some women have to travel to get the chance of being treated and supported in a safe place with their baby. In a place that’s right for them - a Mother and Baby Unit.'

Rachel is fitting in her runs around work and children and knows it won't be easy but is inviting anyone local to join her on her routes if they want to.

She's already smashed her fundraising target and is still out running every day, whatever the weather. We're all really proud of you Rachel!

Read more about Rachel's story and add your support for her January Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rachel-Evans4545 

If you fancy taking on your own Miles for Mums and Babies Challenge, find out more here, or contact fundraising@app-network.org