Action on Postpartum Psychosis statement: tragic news of Orlaith Quinn in Northern Ireland

We are deeply saddened by the tragic news about Orlaith Quinn in Northern Ireland. Our thoughts are with Orlaith’s family at this awful time. Our peer supporters are here for family members and anyone else who has been affected by postpartum psychosis.

Orlaith Quinn

Postpartum psychosis affects 1-2 in every thousand women who give birth in the UK. It should always be treated as a medical emergency and the recommended care involves immediate access to a specialist Mother and Baby Unit - of which there are currently none in Northern Ireland.

Sadly, there still isn’t enough awareness of postpartum psychosis - not only amongst the general public, but also amongst health professionals. This needs to change. Around half of women who experience postpartum psychosis have experienced no prior mental illness. Spotting the signs can be life-saving.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis works with health professionals to provide short training sessions that can significantly impact early diagnosis - helping professionals know when, where and how to signpost to specialist services. We also have a wealth of information available online to anyone who needs to find out more about the illness and its symptoms.

If postpartum psychosis is diagnosed quickly and treated appropriately, women make a full recovery from this severe and life-threatening illness.

Our trained peer supporters are here if you’d like to talk to someone. Find out about Action on Postpartum Psychosis peer support or contact us at app@app-network.org.

Find out about Action on Postpartum Psychosis training for health professionals.

Read about Action on Postpartum Psychosis research and campaigns.