A huge thank you to both Emma Watt and Laura Dockrill who organised and ran 100 miles to support APP and PANDAS!

Emma completed her 100 miles throughout the month of June 2020 and raised such incredible awareness and funds through her Virgin Money Giving page, which you can still visit and donate to here.

Following her amazing efforts and the support Emma received by every supporter, Emma said: 'I was overwhelmed by the love and support from everyone and this really spurred me on for the 100 miles. I couldn’t be prouder to hand over the baton to Laura Dockrill x'.

Despite an injury, Laura completed her 100 miles with the help of 33 friends who each ran 3 miles/5K on the same day on Saturday 22 August 2020.

The runners included @hugowhitenoise @daisymaydock @r_mcbean @hdurkle @sioby11 @robertemms @victoriabuzzington @el_matthews_ @ssoufian @annekaharry @jadeanouka @_gracesavage @thesabrinagrant @zeshaldinho @helen_kenny @victoria_cooper @gemagain @camtstagram @danusztan @db_personal_training @becki_haslam @torie_green @lindseyjrussell @waureng @peggysuekaty @jagjagomix @ezzamcp @jasonsales @samuelking @mkpyoungman @freddie_errington @johntrindle @thelippyrunner @maxulla and @secakery.

In a video shared with her Instagram followers on the day of the run, Laura said: 'The love and support has just been overwhelming, I had goosebumps the entire run. It's without a doubt, the easiest 5K I've ever done because the energy was just so amazing..'. You can watch Laura's full clip here and still donate here.

Thank you Emma and Laura for your fantastic efforts in support of APP and thank you to everyone who took part and to those who donated.

If you have been inspired by Emma & Laura's 100 mile challenge and would like to run in aid of APP, email us at fundraising@app-network.org. We would love to support you!

#MaternalSuicidePreventionWeek, 7th-11th September 2020
Join Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) in getting involved in #MaternalSuicidePreventionWeek by helping to raise awareness of Postpartum Psychosis. 

Over the past 10 years, APP have been working to reduce the risk of maternal suicide, by training peer supporters, developing information, training health professionals and raising awareness of Postpartum Psychosis. So much has been achieved, but we are not there yet.

Please help by sharing APP’s #MumWatch campaign
For #MaternalSuicidePreventionWeek we’re talking about the signs of Postpartum Psychosis, so that we can all look out for them and take action to prevent suicide in new mums. Please help by sharing the following campaign text and image widely:

Feel like your partner or friend is not themselves?
Be the friend they need - help make an urgent appointment with their Doctor, Midwife or call 111. If you think there is imminent danger, call 999. With help they will recover.
#MumWatch #MaternalSuicidePreventionWeek @ActionOnPP

Please also follow and share APP’s social media posts throughout the week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you have been bereaved following Postpartum Psychosis
Our peer supporters can signpost to sources of information and support.
Please get in touch to find out how you can get involved with APP’s work by emailing app@app-network.org

Please donate to help support our life-saving work
1 in 3 people who use APP’s peer support say they might not be here today without it. Peer support can be life-saving.
Please donate to support our work >

Thank you to Mother London for supporting APP’s #MumWatch campaign.

Huge thanks to Simon and Jude Hill who are cycling 2500 miles to raise awareness of postpartum psychosis and funding for APP!

Simon and Jude said: "When our third daughter, Emily, suffered from postpartum psychosis after the birth of her daughter in 2018, we were so grateful for the support she received whilst in Leeds MBU. That support has continued to help her towards making a full recovery. Emily is an experienced mid-wife and after her maternity leave was able to return to work at a local birth centre.

Jude and I had been planning a long bike ride in the USA to raise funds for APP but that was shelved with the onset of the pandemic. We realised that whilst we have all been enduring the difficulties of lockdown, a small number of mothers, their partners and families have had to cope with the additional challenges brought on by PP. Raising money to facilitate the work of APP must not be delayed, to support future mothers who experience postpartum psychosis.

Starting on 21st August, 2020, we will be doing a UK based challenge by riding from Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG), and back. Following mainly National Cycle Routes (SUSTRANS) to cover the 2500 miles, we will be camping whenever possible. Our hope is to be back at our home in Somerset by early October."

Join Simon and Jude by donating on their JustGiving page here, “Pedalling for PP awareness”

You can also click here to follow Simon and Jude on Instagram, “Pedalling for PP awareness”, or to keep up to date with their fantastic LEJOG journey, check out their itinerary plans here and their Strava journeys here!

Thank you Simon and Jude for your incredible efforts and support of APP! We wish you the best of luck.

A huge thank you to Katrina for organising and successfully completing her run on 18th July, with her friend Danielle!

Katrina & Danielle were running in support of APP and want to "break the stigma around mental health".

Thank you Katrina and Danielle and to everyone who donated via Katrina's JustGiving page here - Katrina's amazing fundraiser has raised a fantastic £397 for APP!

If you have been inspired by Katrina & Danielle and would like to run in aid of APP, email us at fundraising@app-network.org. We would love to support any event you chose!

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, we know that pregnant women and new mothers have questions about what will happen to their care and how they should access services.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) has compiled information for: pregnant women with a history of postpartum psychosis / bipolar; women and families in crisis or who are developing psychosis; and for those recovering from PP at this time.

This is a fast-moving situation. Health trusts/boards across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are continuing to make changes to their services. We will update this guide as information becomes available.

Click the below images for specific information:

Action on Postpartum Psychosis

Connect with APP via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and follow the news on our website to find out more about what APP can offer.

Help with a research survey
We are working with colleagues at the National Centre for Mental Health to understand better the impact COVID-19 is having on people with mental health conditions. To find out more about how to participate in the NCMH COVID-19 survey click here

A huge thank you to Sian, #thelippyrunner, who is raising awareness of PP and supporting APP through her July fundraiser! Why not join Sian and #getlippy this July?!

Sian says: My story starts with a nomination to do the NHS 5k. So on the 19th of April in lockdown I decided to put on some lipstick for empowerment and to feel half human and to have a go. I did it and I haven't looked back since. I have run pretty much every day since. And every day the lipstick goes on. #thelippyrunner (follow me and my journey on Instagram) I was NOT a runner but have found a love for it that I don't want to give up. I wanted to find something for my mental health in lockdown and be more than mother, wife and teacher. I think a lot of women feel like that. This was something for me.

I've had messages off women saying how they don't have the confidence to get out there but that this has inspired them to. This is amazing and makes me feel so proud. Anyone can. Support each other and we all can.

I found Action on Postpartum Psychosis as I wanted to raise money for women's postnatal mental health and this is only one area but a very important area that isn't spoken about. We need to #getlippy and change the stigma. This is not embarrassing. We need to talk, help and support one another and this amazing charity does that. I'm so passionate about it.

PLEASE PLEASE GET INVOLVED.

I would really like anyone to join in. This is a July fundraiser. Please follow the steps below.

PUT YOUR LIPSTICK ON 💋

DO A RUN (however long or short)

DONATE HERE(as much or as little as you can)

SHARE YOUR END PHOTO (upload your photo to Instagram and Facebook and #thelippyrunner and #getlippy)

TAG SOMEONE (tag someone you know to get this message out and raise awareness about this unspoken subject)

SHARE THE FUNDRAISING PAGE WHEN TAGGING (so the next person knows what they need to do)

You are also going to be put into a draw to win some amazing Body Shop lipsticks after you donate (please put your full name on your donation and you can be put into the draw)

This isn't just for women. Men come and support your wives, partners, girlfriends, sisters, mothers, aunties and nieces. Support your daughters for what they might go through.

At various points throughout I will share when I will be running so people can join in and run with me. I want to encourage people to get running and not feel self conscious. I will also be doing a final run on 31st July and I will invite anyone to come and join.

I will be running most days too and you can continue to follow my running journey on Instagram #thelippyrunner

I'm so thankful to be doing this so PLEASE support me and this amazing charity!!

Love from Sian Purdy Marr 💋
I am #thelippyrunner

Sian's amazing fundraiser, #getlippy, has been a huge success and had raised over £900 in aid of APP! A huge thank you to #thelippyrunner and to all who donated to support Sian's efforts!

If you have been inspired by Sian's fundraiser and want to start your own, contact fundraising@app-network.org - we would love to support your event!

Huge thanks to Karen Savage who raised incredible funds for APP through her 60th birthday fundraiser!

Karen said: "We all may have a different story to tell but those suffering from Postpartum Psychosis have one thing in common is how very frightening this illness is and the speed that it can manifest itself! When I had my baby, APP was not as we know it today and there was no care network and I only wish I had the benefit of their peer support.

I suffered from Postpartum Psychosis (PP), which I can now freely talk about without the stigma attached that prevented me from disclosing what a nightmare this rare illness was for me and my family back in 1985! The time which should have been the happiest of my life, ended up with me on a psychiatric ward, separated from my baby. Had I not agreed to go in voluntarily I would have been sectioned. I was severely unwell, and it was only at this point I understood that something was very wrong but didn’t know what.

I had always intended to ask my friends and family who wished to buy me a present to celebrate my 60th birthday. To raise money for APP would be the greatest gift anyone could give me, I wanted to raise as much money as possible. Never did I imagine that I would be celebrating my 60th during a Pandemic and that my husband’s gift of travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer would have to be put on hold and that I wouldn’t be getting the kisses and cuddles from my granddaughter. Now more than ever charities are desperate for funds that would normally arise from fund raising events that have had to be cancelled or postponed!"

Thank you Karen and to everyone who donated via Karen's JustGiving page here, Karen's birthday fundraiser has raised an incredible total of £2225!!

If your birthday is approaching and you would like to set up your own birthday fundraiser, contact app@app-network.org - we would love to support you and celebrate together!

A huge thanks to Emily Saunders who walked 70 miles and raised an incredible £850 to support APP!

Emily says: "I suffered from postpartum psychosis when my daughter was born in June 2017. I wanted to do something positive during lockdown and had talked about walking from my home in Sheffield to the MBU I was in in Nottingham as a sponsored walk. Clearly that wasn't possible during lockdown but I decided I would see if I could walk the distance during my daily exercise - 35 miles. I appreciate it isn't that far to walk in a month but with working 5 days a week and a toddler to care for, it felt like a challenge! I chose to do this in May to coincide with Maternal Mental Health Week. My partner challenged me to walk back again when I had walked 35 miles which I managed to do. I completed my 70 miles on 29th May. I did most of my walks by myself in the evenings but did some with my partner and our daughter, and two with 2 friends who supported me when I was ill and recovering (appropriately socially distanced of course!). I found new paths in the woods near my home, listened to some fantastic podcasts and saw some stunning sunsets. I was really emotional when I finished. I don't often say I'm proud of myself but I am for walking 70 miles in May and raising £850 for APP, for working so hard to recover and for volunteering with APP - I'm a regional rep".

A massive thank you to everyone who donated via Emily's JustGiving page here too! A fantastic achievement that Emily should absolutely be proud of!

If you have been inspired by Emily's fundraiser and want to get involved with your own sponsored walk, you can contact us at app@app-network.org

Keep up to date with our plans for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week!

Join us each day between Monday 4 May - Sunday 10 May. Here's what we have planned:

Catch up on Monday's topic - "What is Postpartum Psychosis?" here, where you can watch Sally and her husband Jamie discuss their experience of the early signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis with Ian Jones, Professor of Psychiatry and Trustee of Action on Postpartum Psychosis.

From World Mental Health Day, you can also watch APP in conversation with Catherine Cho, author of 'Inferno: A Memoir' here. Hear Catherine discuss her PP experience with Jessie from Action on Postpartum Psychosis.

Thursday's topic - "What support is there for partners, families & friends of women affected by PP?" is available here, where Kat and her husband Tom discuss their experience of postpartum psychosis with Giles Berrisford, Perinatal Psychiatrist and Chair of APP and with Ellie, Peer Support Coordinator for APP.

You can also watch Saturday's Facebook Live "#Honest Conversations" with Laura Dockrill, Dr Jo Black and Jessie here.

If you have been affected by anything in these films, need any support, or want to meet others, visit: https://www.app-network.org or contact us on app@app-network.org for more information.

#SupportingMumsDuringDifficultTimes
#MaternalMHmatters
#PMHPAccessingSafeSupport
#APPFutureMidwife