2 December 2024

Our 2024 festive appeal

Our festive appeal this year is focused on raising funds to develop new specialist resources for those struggling with legal and rights-based issues after postpartum psychosis (PP).  

Whilst in recovery from PP, some women face legal, financial or rights-based issues. These issues can cause frustration, distress, injustice and hamper recovery. In our 2023 peer support survey, respondents shared some of the difficulties they've experienced:

  • Nearly half (49%) faced issues around returning to work.
  • Over a third (36%) had difficulties with reinstatement of their full driving licence.
  • 31% had trouble accessing insurance.
  • 28% had problems accessing benefits entitlements.
  • Some reported poor understanding of PP in family or criminal courts.

Your donation could help us develop a series of information leaflets covering the most common issues women and families face; increase awareness to help remove stigma and ensure better understanding; and develop a support and signposting service.

Our APP Peer Support service already changes and saves lives. Those we support tell us there's a real need for this kind of specialist information. It would make such a practical difference to so many women and families.

Please donate now to help us do more.

Hannah and her baby in a Christmas pudding outfit

Hannah struggled to get her full driving licence back for several years after recovering from PP.
She initially surrendered her driving licence, then had temporary licences for the following four years, even after she was fully recovered and discharged from her mental health team. Hannah needed a licence for her job, and because she lives in a rural area. Each time her temporary licence expired, she had to complete extensive paperwork and make numerous calls to the DVLA.
She says:  'In the early days, I didn't have the confidence to challenge it. There was never any issue with my driving and it hadn't been something that medication or my recovery process had impacted. I've driven since I was 17 and really value this as part of my independence and identity. Plus, living in a rural area meant being prevented from driving made me feel even more isolated.'

After more than five years of back and forth with the DVLA, she finally got her full licence back.

I felt angry and discriminated against for having a limited licence due to something that had happened five years ago.  On one of my calls to the DVLA I asked them if they knew what they were doing and if they knew anything about the illness I had experienced - they said they didn't and were awaiting medical sign-off and again told me there was a backlog.  I also asked my GP who said they had no issue with me driving, so the delay was with the DVLA.

My experience shows that the DVLA and other agencies should have a knowledge of PP and what this means.  There are definitely worse drivers on the road than me and at that stage, five years after PP, it seemed pretty ridiculous! 

PP is not like other mental health diagnoses either and the main risk is around having a baby.  I would urge everyone to support our work to educate other statutory bodies about what PP is and what it isn't so this doesn't happen to other people.

Like many women affected by PP, Hannah has also experienced issues getting insurance:

I still have an exclusion on my life insurance for anything related to mental health - at the last renewal of our policy, the company were unable to provide a decent level of cover due to the small number of psychiatrist appointments I had within the last 10 years, which included when I had sought proactive support when having my youngest child and remained well.  It's really unfair.'

Driving licences and insurance are just two of the issues that can cause problems for some women in recovery. Others tell us they've had problems with benefits entitlements, maternal rights, money advice, and returning to work.
Struggles like these can cause additional stress and anxiety, and hinder recovery. For those with little family support, who have English as a second language or who lack the confidence or knowledge of how to challenge it can be even more difficult.

Donate nowOur Big Give match funding campaign closed on 10th December but you can still donate here and help us continue to support women now and in the future.

Thank you.