APP has been awarded a new NHS contract to provide peer support within the new Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit (MBU).
The new Seren Lodge MBU officially launched on 15th December. It is a first of its kind cross-border perinatal mental health facility designed to support women from Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. The unit will work alongside the existing regional Community Perinatal Mental Health service who already care for thousands of women every year.
Jocelyn and Sally from Action on Postpartum Psychosis at the opening of Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit, Chester. December 2025
APP works with a number of MBUs around the country to provide peer support to women in hospital as well as in the community. The charity, recently acknowledged with a prestigious GSK Impact Award, also provides MBU support in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Solihull as well as a huge network of in-person and virtual café groups across the UK including Northern Ireland.
Dr Jess Heron, CEO, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, said: “As an organisation founded on lived experience, we’re delighted to be able to reach and support more women and families around the UK via this new NHS partnership. Many women have told us that having someone to speak to who has experienced postpartum psychosis themselves and come through the other side brings hope and reduces fear, so we know this new service will be an invaluable addition to Seren Lodge.”
Dr Sally Wilson, National Training Coordinator, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, said: “APP has been working with partners and families with lived experience to campaign for more MBUs for many years now, so we’re really excited to see the much-needed Seren Lodge MBU take shape. We know through our own research that women being treated in MBUs rather than general psychiatric wards enjoy more positive outcomes, and being able to add value to this through the provision of peer support will be truly transformative.
Seren Lodge will provide a home from home for women and their babies and include a nursery, sensory room, and multiple lounges to support quiet time and family visits. Having access to outside spaces is central to the development with two garden areas and a walking pram loop, with families benefitting from close access to the Countess Country Park. Seren Lodge will also provide dedicated space and Welsh-language resources for women from North Wales who have previously struggled to access MBU beds.
Sarah Dearden, APP Storyteller said: "When I first became unwell with postpartum psychosis when my son was six days old I was admitted to a general psychiatric ward. There were no available MBU beds and being admitted to the wrong and very scary environment made the fear and confusion so much worse. That's why Seren Lodge is so wonderful and crucial. Mums and babies can stay together and stop the anguish of being separated."
Dr Heron added: “This new unit will ensure that new mothers with severe postnatal illness will be cared for appropriately and supported with parenting, without having to travel miles from their families or ending up in adult psychiatric wards and separated from their newborn. APP has been fortunate to work with the Seren Lodge team to ensure the voices of lived experience are heard throughout the development process, so we are confident that this new facility will be a much-needed addition to the UK’s perinatal mental health provision.”
Seren Lodge MBU is the result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCHUB), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales. It has been supported and informed by CWP’s Helix experts by experience group.
Could you become an APP peer supporter?
If you have lived experience of postpartum psychosis and live within the Seren Lodge catchment area (Cheshire / Merseyside / North Wales) APP would love to hear from you. The charity is currently recruiting for a Peer Support Facilitator and a Peer Support Worker and will be holding a training day in Chester on 31st January 2026. Find out more here.
Season’s greetings and a happy new year from everyone at APP
A message from APP's Chief Executive, Dr Jessica Heron:
“On behalf of APP, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us this year. APP is a lifeline for many families, and we couldn’t do it without you - our supporters, fundraisers, volunteers and community. Every peer support call, experience shared in the media, bake sale, marathon run and skydive plays a vital role in improving the future for others.
During 2025, hundreds of families found hope and recovery, supported by our trained staff and volunteers. You’ll see in this newsletter that 97% of those who completed our survey felt more supported after finding APP, and 44% believed they might not be alive without the support they received from APP.
In 2025, nearly 3,000 health professionals heard an APP speaker via a lived experience talk, APP full day training, and our suicide prevention webinar. 100% say our training will change their practice and 100% would recommend it to other professionals.
We have sent hundreds of APP’s free information guides and resource packs to Mother and Baby Units, Perinatal Mental Health Services, Maternity Services and organisations working with new families throughout the UK. We’ve supported key research, and through our patient information, professional training and awareness-raising, we ensure that knowledge reaches families and professionals and isn’t locked behind scientific journal paywalls. We’ve supported more than 35 media stories and creative pieces this year, including PP storylines on Hollyoaks and Casualty.
We’ve continued to campaign tirelessly for women with PP to access Mother and Baby Units, working to ensure these facilities are valued and their budgets protected. We’re delighted that the Chester MBU supporting women across North Wales and Cheshire has opened this month- and will have an embedded APP peer support worker. Later in this newsletter, you’ll hear that the Northern Ireland Health Minister made a moving speech committing to a MBU in Northern Ireland, but still no funding or timeframe has been confirmed.
2025 saw APP’s first Adventure - with families from our community and health professionals coming together in the beautiful Peak District to take on a 13km walk of Mam Tor (Mother Hill) passing through the village of Hope, raising nearly £12,000 for APP in the process.
We were also honoured to receive the prestigious GSK impact award - recognising small charities making a big difference. Judges praised APP’s ‘unique integration of lived experience’ and our ‘powerful partnerships with the NHS’.
From everyone at APP, I wish you and your loved ones a restful and happy festive season. We know that for some families, Christmas and New Year can be a difficult time, particularly for those with loved ones spending Christmas in an MBU or struggling with recovery. You are not on our own – APP’s peer supporters are available every day of the year via our Forum”.
Peer Support during the festive period
APP’s Forum is open as usual over the festive period. Our staff and volunteers are here to support anyone who needs to talk to others who have been there.
If you are emailing the office, or requesting one to one email or video call support over the festive period, please bear with us. It may take a few days for us to get back to you.
New Chester Mother and Baby Unit opening
APP staff and members of the Helix Experts by Experience group were delighted to attend the official opening of Seren Lodge, the new Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Chester, on Monday 15th December.
The unit, which will support women from Cheshire, Merseyside, and North Wales, welcomed its first patients on Wednesday. It has been designed as a home from home for mothers and babies and includes a nursery and sensory room, lounges for quiet time and family visits, gardens with a walking pram loop and Welsh-language support for North Wales families.
APP’s Jocelyn Ellams and Sally Wlison went to the opening ceremony. Jocelyn said:
“What made the day even more meaningful was that my son, Seth, was able to see first-hand the incredible facility now available to mums and babies across Cheshire and North Wales. Experts by Experience have been involved from the very beginning, shaping the space to ensure it feels as homely, safe, and supportive as possible for mothers during a crucial time. I feel incredibly privileged to have been part of this journey, alongside some truly
Sally said: “This is such fantastic news for families affected by postpartum psychosis and perinatal mental illness. I live in North Wales, and I was separated from my daughter and treated in a general psychiatric hospital when I was ill with postpartum psychosis in 2015. This was incredibly traumatic for me and my family and it took me a long time to recover. So many people and organisations have worked incredibly hard to see this happen. This will help to ensure that all families have access to the treatment and support that will allow them to recover from these devastating illnesses.”
APP has been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units in the UK for more than ten years. Our research shows that women who receive care for postpartum psychosis in MBUs feel more satisfied with the care they receive, feel safer, feel more confident in the knowledge of the staff, recover more quickly and feel more confident with their baby when they go home.
Want to help make a difference? If you have lived experience of postpartum psychosis and live in Cheshire, Merseyside, the wider NW region, or North Wales, you could become an APP peer support volunteer. The next training day will be 31st January 2026 in Chester. For more details, email: app@app-network.org.
Are you a Black mum who has experienced mania, bipolar or psychosis after giving birth? Did you find it difficult to speak up about it and worried about what other people or friends and family might say or think? Would you like to connect and talk with other Black mums?
Join us at our new, friendly online café group, meeting on Zoom at 7.30pm on the third Friday of every month, led by Rachel, APP's peer support facilitator.
We’re so proud of APP’s collaboration with Hollyoaks on its recent issue-based storyline.
Hollyoaks has been exploring postpartum psychosis (PP): Cleo McQueen, played by Nadine Mulkerrin, struggles with her mental health following the traumatic birth of her first child, Joseph.
APP colleagues and storytellers have been advising on the storyline. Nadine Mulkerrin, who plays Cleo McQueen, said: “It’s been a new challenge taking on the role of motherhood and the difficulties that being a new mum can bring, especially the strain it can have on your mental health. We had a consultation with APP whilst filming, and it was helpful to hear other people’s experiences - my heart breaks for poor Cleo.”
Dr Jess Heron, APP Chief Executive, said: “Responsible portrayals of PP on popular TV shows such as Hollyoaks are invaluable. With greater public awareness, partners, friends, family members and frontline health professionals will be more able to quickly spot the signs and seek specialist emergency help as soon as possible. We’re grateful to Hollyoaks for playing a part in awareness raising and for their diligent approach to producing a sensitive and accurate storyline.”
We are recruiting: new team administrator role
APP is recruiting a Team Administrator to help manage our busy virtual office. You will act as the first point of contact for many people getting in touch with the charity online and via telephone.
The successful candidate will be warm, friendly, empathetic and supportive of the women and families we help. We’re looking for someone to work closely with the Senior Management and back office teams as well as our Community Engagement Manager to respond to enquiries by phone and email; maintain stocks of fundraising materials and literature; and update website content. The role also includes finance administration tasks.
This is an excellent opportunity to join our highly dedicated, passionate and supportive team. Full details of how to apply for the role are on our website. The application deadline is midnight on 19th January 2026.
Update: Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Unit Campaign
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), a specialist inpatient mental health facility where mothers can be admitted with their babies for care and treatment. Instead, mothers who develop PP are admitted to general acute psychiatric wards for non-specialist treatment, separating them from babies. Our research shows that women who receive care in MBUs feel more satisfied with the care they receive, feel safer, feel more confident in the knowledge of the staff, recover more quickly and feel more confident with their baby when they go home.
Liz Morrison, APP’s Northern Ireland campaign consultant, shares an update:
Thank you so much to everyone who’s helped raise awareness of the urgent need for an MBU in Northern Ireland (NI). We made a big stride forward when the issue was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly in October.
The debate saw strong cross-party support and powerful testimony from both MLAs and the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, who said: “A Mother and Baby Unit is not overdue or long overdue: it is long, long overdue.” Outlining his own family’s experience of severe postnatal mental illness, the Minister said he wants to go ahead with an MBU in Belfast but didn’t go as far as guaranteeing funding.
MLAs from all parties urged the Minister to find the funds for an MBU. Most urged that in the meantime a temporary ward is opened, and that women be given the option to travel to England, Scotland or Wales for treatment with their babies if that’s what they want. APP had briefed the MLAs about options for families while we await a MBU. We’re really pleased that they set out our asks clearly and even praised APP for our ‘tireless campaigning.’
Huge thanks to the members of APP’s Northern Ireland peer support group who have spoken out in the media and met with politicians. The debate in the Assembly came about as a direct result of Teresa Hawke joining other APP reps to meet with Sinn Féin MLAs. Órlaithí Flynn MLA was moved by her story and worked to bring the debate forward. We can’t say a big enough thank you to everyone who has shared their story with journalists, health officials and politicians.
Welcome to 8 new peer support volunteers (pictured above alongside APP’s Ellie and Jenny), who joined us online for a training day earlier this month.
Our peer support volunteers have all experienced postpartum psychosis themselves (or are a partner or family member of someone who has experienced PP). They generously give some of their time to support others through 1:1 peer support, our cafe groups and our online peer support forum.
If you would like to know more about our peer support, or about volunteering with us in this way, do please get in touch. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers!
APP’s annual peer support survey
Thank you to everyone who completed our 2025 peer support survey. We continue to hear how important peer support is to recovery from PP - for those newly recovering and for many years after PP.
Overall, since finding APP...
97% felt more supported
89% felt less isolated
98% felt more informed about PP
91% felt less negative about PP
96% felt more hopeful about the future
96% felt that APP had helped, or was helping, them to recover
90% felt more able to talk about their PP with family, friends and health professionals
44% said they might not be alive if they had not found APP's peer support services
A wealth of feedback was shared through your thoughtful and detailed comments. We will be considering all of your insights and suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
Below are just a few of the many comments shared through the survey:
“To meet other women who have experienced PP is invaluable and even some years later, I still seek solace and comfort in engaging with APP’s support. I do not know how I would come to terms with the illness had I not had APP. It would be extremely isolating.”
“I have found the additional benefits by accessing peer support have been so many ... meeting mums who related to my experiences, virtual conversations with mums / families from all corners of the world. Celebrating what a courageous group of women we are!”
“I think that APP's peer support service is so important and when I was ill all those years ago, I would have loved to have had access to the services available now. It is so helpful and reassuring to know that we are not alone and that we will recover.”
“Support came at a critical time and gave us hope and reassurance about the future. This service is essential for families experiencing trauma and the ongoing fallout from a loved one experiencing PP.”
“APP is amazing. They have literally changed my life. After having my daughter and suffering PP I thought I'd never be the same person again and I didn't enjoy being a mum. Now I am confident again and enjoy spending time with my daughter as our bond has grown. I enjoy meeting other people and talking to others who understand.”
New research collaboration to tackle ethnic inequalities in perinatal severe mental illness
APP is supporting a ground-breaking new study that aims to transform postpartum mental health care for mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds or those living in deprived areas who experience severe mental illness.
The Improving Postpartum Outcomes of Severe Mental Illnesses in Ethnically Diverse Mothers (POSIE) project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is a collaboration between several UK universities, including the University of Oxford, NHS Trusts and charities. It aims to identify practical ways to improve care for mothers experiencing serious mental illnesses such as severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death among mothers in the first year after giving birth with women from Black ethnic backgrounds almost three times more likely to die in the year following childbirth compared to white mothers. Women from Asian backgrounds also face an increased risk.
Shaheda Akhtar, APP’s peer support facilitator, who will lead Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) for the POSIE project, said: “We regularly hear from Black and Asian women who've had postpartum psychosis about delays in treatment and admission, that care and information did not feel appropriate to them, and they had difficulties finding information about this treatable medical emergency. Going to a Mother and Baby Unit can be quite frightening when you don't know anything about them. Our peer supporters help women to understand what they are experiencing and combat isolation and fear. We educate health professionals by sharing women’s powerful stories, but we know that services are crying out for evidence-based practical ways to improve care for Black and Asian women.”
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal this year. We raised an amazing £9,670.
This will go a really long way to help us support hundreds of families during 2026.
Thank you also to our generous supporter and to The Julia Rausing Trust for matching donations for the duration of the Big Give appeal.
Watch APP’s 2025 Webinar
If you missed our October webinar, ‘Essential knowledge for preventing maternal suicide’ you can watch it here.
The webinar is aimed at frontline health professionals working with families in the perinatal period, the webinar is supported by fundraising in memory of Alex Baish. We know this can be a difficult and emotive topic for many people, so please take care when watching. Please share this free training widely with GPs, midwives, health visitors, and perinatal team staff.
This was the third webinar in APP's series, which has reached nearly 10,000 health professionals.
A huge thank you to everyone who has watched so far, and to our brilliant speakers for sharing their insights and experiences.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
2026 will see the 10th Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. The Perinatal Mental Health Partnership is looking for feedback.
If you have ideas on what the 10th Awareness week should cover, please fill in the short form here.
APP at the College of Paramedics conference
On Friday 24th October, APPs National Training Coordinator Sally presented to 300 ambulance, emergency medicine, maternity and nursing staff at the ‘Pre-Hospital Maternity and Newborn Conference’, hosted by the College of Paramedics at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Wales. Sally talked about experiencing postpartum psychosis, how to spot the signs and symptoms of PP, and the pathways of care to specialist services.
Sally said: “It was a privilege to be invited to speak to health professionals who are on the frontline supporting families during the perinatal period. I was inspired by the many dedicated practitioners I met who are committed to expanding their understanding of postpartum psychosis and strengthening their connection with APP.”
APP at the GMMH Stars Awards
APP’s Manchester’s Mother and Baby Unit peer support team were excited to be nominated for the GMMH Stars Awards, 2025. Rachel & Ali (pictured above) enjoyed an evening of formal dinner and awards ceremony to showcase the inspirational people working at, and in partnership with, Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust.
APP was one of three organisations nominated for the Outstanding Partner Organisation Award, with an incredible 603 nominations across categories submitted by GMMH staff, service users, their carers and families. Despite not being the overall winners, the team, Rachel, Ali and Nicola, received a Highly Commended certificate. We’re all very proud of you!
APP’s peer support project in Manchester was set up in September 2023. We offer peer support in the ward, during hospital discharge, and through a café group in the community. Find out more here.
Fabulous fundraisers
The biggest well done and thank you to Ross who completed the 63km Tollymore Extreme Ultra Trail Marathon for APP earlier this month - what an epic challenge! Ross raised over £9,000 and has done a huge amount to help raise awareness of PP and of the need for an MBU and more specialist care particularly in Northern Ireland. Read more and watch his inspirational video on Instagram. Thank you Ross!
APP’s super volunteers Chris and Natalie were back in action earlier in November, following up their previous fundraising efforts, this time with a 160ft bungee jump over Bray Lake in Windsor! They very bravely took the plunge for APP, raising more than £350. Chris has also continued his football stadium awareness raising tour with a trip to Notts County FC this month.
Also in action in the last couple of months were Lauren-Nicole, Aaron, Gareth and Dom who took on the Amsterdam Marathon for APP, raising over £1,500 between them; Jessie and Pendra who completed the Royal Parks Half; and Olivia who completed a 100km Miles for Mums and Babies challenge during October - well done!
A BIG thank you to the Inbound and Replenishment Team at John Lewis & Partners Magna Park for the amazing fundraising they’ve done for APP over the last few months - from cycling challenges to ice cream selling, the nightshift team have done so much to raise funds and awareness. Our Fundraiser Fliss went to thank the team and got a full tour of the warehouse earlier this month. Thank you!
Over in Northern Ireland, for the second year running, Lucy and friends hosted a fabulous festive bake sale and raffle for APP, raising more than £400. It’s now become an annual tradition! Thank you Lucy.
Salesforce need a huge thank you from us too, they recently supported APP by hosting an event for us. Their team were so moved by what APP does, that they chose to fundraise for us during their recent festive activities also - crafting some beautiful baubles to send to an MBU and raising nearly £1,000.
Rich Baish organised a fabulous quiz and disco in Witney at the end of November. Rich was the quizmaster extraordinaire and a fantastic time was had by all, with over £1,000 raised for APP on the night. Thanks to all who supported this event.
2026 Challenge Events
Events next year are already filling up - we have places on offer in events including the iconic Great North Run, Manchester Marathon, Edinburgh Marathon, Hackney Half and so many more - whatever your running level and wherever you are in the country, we’ll find the right event for you, so if your new years resolution is going to be to take on a challenge - let us know or check out our challenge page for more inspiration.
We’re hoping 2026 will be a big year for Miles for Mums and Babies challenges too! It’s never too early to start planning your own personal challenge for next year - maybe you want to run a mile a day in May, get a team together to conquer a local hike, or take on a wild swimming adventure - we’d love to support whatever you are thinking about.
Shop online and raise funds for APP
Whether it’s last minute gift shopping, the big Christmas food shop, or treating yourself in the January sales, if you register with easyfundraising, every purchase you make could help support APP, at no additional cost. There are more than 8000 retailers to choose from, including John Lewis, Argos, Tesco, Amazon, Boots, M&S, Etsy, Lego and so many more.
Plus, this week APP could WIN a £1,000 donation prize in easyfundraising's giveaway! We get a FREE entry each time a new supporter signs up before the 21st December. It only takes a moment and it's completely free, so please get involved if you haven't already. Happy shopping!
In the media
Die My Love 2025 film poster
Members of the APP team have watched the powerful new film Die My Love which explores PP within a mix of broader perinatal mental health themes. Read their review of the film here.
The Detail featured an article on the need for a Mother and Baby Unit in Northern Ireland, including experiences shared by Stephanie and comment from APP’s Media Consultant Liz. APP fundraiser Ross and his wife Gemma supported the Northern Ireland MBU campaign by sharing their story with ITV news.
Megan shared her PP experience in the Mom Breaks podcast. The By Your Side podcast featured Abi’s PP experience and APP volunteer Chris Wasley joined the The MAMA Podcast to talk about PP from a partner’s perspective.
APP’s Development Manager, Rich, spoke to The Guardian about concerns that advice given by coroners in England and Wales to help prevent maternal deaths isn’t being acted upon. Rich was also interviewed by Greatest Hits Oxfordshire, calling for better mental health support for women and new mums.
If you would like to support awareness-raising of PP and APP, please get in touch for support and help with key messages.
Diary dates
APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 19th December
APP Black mums virtual café group meet up, Friday 19th December
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 9th January
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 12th January
APP UK wide virtual café group meet up, Thursday 15th January
APP Black mums virtual café group meet up, Friday 16th January
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 16th January
APP Yorkshire face to face café group meet up in Sheffield, Saturday 17th January
APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 17th January
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 21st January
APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 21st January
APP Sussex and Hampshire face to face café group meet up in Winchester, Saturday 24th January
APP London virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 27th January
Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.
APP's Shaheda Akhtar will play a pivotal role in a ground-breaking new study that aims to transform postpartum mental health care for mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds or those living in deprived areas who experience severe mental illness.
The Improving Postpartum Outcomes of Severe Mental Illnesses in Ethnically Diverse Mothers (POSIE) project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is a collaboration between several UK universities, including the University of Oxford, NHS Trusts and charities. It aims to identify practical ways to improve care for mothers experiencing serious mental illnesses such as severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death among mothers in the first year after giving birth, while the number of new mothers seeking mental health support has risen sharply, increasing by 30% between 2022 and 2023.[1] Meanwhile, women from Black ethnic backgrounds are almost three times more likely to die in the year following childbirth compared to white mothers, and women from Asian backgrounds also face an increased risk.[2]
A particular focus for the research is the transition from hospital to community care, a period when many women lose contact with support services and face heightened risk.
Dr Roisin Mooney, co-lead investigator of the project at the University of Oxford, said: “Cultural and structural barriers can prevent women from receiving timely and appropriate mental health support, leaving many without access to effective treatment or follow-up care. By exploring why gaps in aftercare exist and how these differ across ethnic and social groups, this inclusive research seeks to inform new, equitable approaches to postpartum mental health care.”
Professor Kam Bhui, co-lead investigator also from Oxford, said: “The disparities between different groups highlight that current systems of care are not meeting the needs of all mothers. This exciting collaborative project aims to tackle this challenge and improve the prevention and management of severe mental illness following childbirth.”
The research team will use clinical data to investigate variations in care and outcomes, and will run workshops involving at least 120 women with lived experience of postpartum severe mental illness from Manchester, Sheffield, London and Oxford. From this data, they will design a new ‘culturally safe’ care pathway, which will be tested and evaluated at six sites across the country, before developing a toolkit and guidance to support its implementation.
Professor of Maternal and Infant Health at Sheffield Hallam University, Hora Soltani, is part of the POSIE project team and also leads the NIHR Inequalities Challenge: Maternity Disparities Consortium.
Professor Soltani said: “As lead for the perinatal mental health theme within the NIHR Maternity Disparities Consortium, I am delighted to be part of this very important project. Becoming a mother is often assumed to be a joyful and transformative experience, but for some women it can also be a period of significant vulnerability with poorer outcomes for underserved communities. This project aims to ensure that every mother, regardless of background, receives compassionate, effective, and culturally responsive support needed for recovery and long-term wellbeing. Perinatal mental health matters as its impact spans generations, making equity and inclusion a societal imperative.”
Shaheda Akhtar, a peer support facilitator from Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) and patient and public involvement (PPI) lead on the POSIE project, said: “We regularly hear from Black and Asian women who've had postpartum psychosis about delays in treatment and admission, that care and information did not feel appropriate to them, and they had difficulties finding information about this treatable medical emergency. Going to a Mother and Baby Unit can be quite frightening when you don't know anything about them. Our peer supporters help women to understand what they are experiencing and combat isolation and fear. At APP, we educate health professionals by sharing women’s powerful stories, but we know that they are crying out for evidence-based practical ways to improve care.”
Laura Kyrke-Smith MP is currently leading a private members bill though Parliament, which is calling for high-quality perinatal mental health assessments to be a routine part of antenatal care for all women in England. It has been named ‘Sophie’s Law’ in memory of Ms Kyrke-Smith’s friend who died by suicide following the death of her third child.
She said: “Research like the POSIE project is vital to addressing the unacceptable inequalities that continue to cost mothers their lives. We know that women from Black and Asian backgrounds face significantly higher risks of death following childbirth, and that the transition from hospital to community care is a particularly vulnerable period when too many women fall through the cracks.
"This research will help us understand why these disparities exist and, crucially, how we can design care pathways that work for all mothers, regardless of their background or postcode. Every mother deserves access to compassionate, culturally responsive mental health support when she needs it most.
"I welcome this collaboration and look forward to seeing how its findings can inform better practice across the NHS and help ensure no more families have to experience preventable tragedy."
This study is funded by the NIHR and in collaboration with the University of Oxford, King’s College London, University of Greenwich, University of Manchester, Sheffield Hallam University, University College London, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, The Light in Sheffield, 5XMORE, Policy Connect and The Mental Elf.
[2] MBRRACE-UK. Maternal mortality 2020-2022 | MBRRACE-UK | NPEU [Internet]. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit: University of Oxford; 2024 Jan [cited 2024 Mar 19]. Available from: https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2020-2022
‘I don’t know how we would have coped without APP. There was no one else to turn to.’
This festive season, we're on a mission to give the life changing, life saving, gift of peer support to even more families.
Between now and midday on 9th December, we're aiming to raise £10,000 - which could help us reach out to and support nearly 300 women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. We’d love you to help us.
Every donation we receive this week will be worth twice as much – if you donate £5, APP will receive £10, if you donate £25, we'll receive £50, and so on. Double the donation means double the impact.
‘Finding APP and getting support from another grandma who had been through something similar was like a big online hug. I felt heard, understood and supported right from the start.’
Quotes from 2025 APP Peer Support survey
Help us be there for everyone who needs us, for as long as they need us. Donate today if you can. Thank you.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), a specialist inpatient mental health treatment centre where mothers can be admitted with their babies for care and treatment. Instead, mothers who develop postpartum psychosis (PP) are admitted to general acute psychiatric wards for non-specialist treatment, separating them from babies.
APP has been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units in the UK for more than 10 years. Our research shows that women who receive care for postpartum psychosis in MBUs feel more satisfied with the care they receive, feel safer, feel more confident in the knowledge of the staff, recover more quickly and feel more confident with their baby when they go home.
This update is from APP’s Northern Ireland campaigner, Liz Morrison…
Thank you so much to everyone who’s helped raise awareness of the urgent need for an MBU in Northern Ireland (NI). We made a big stride forward when the issue was debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly in October.
The debate saw strong cross-party support and powerful testimony from both MLAs and the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, who said:
A Mother and Baby Unit is not overdue or long overdue: it is long, long overdue.
Talking about his own family’s experience of severe postnatal mental illness, the Minister said he wants to go ahead with an MBU in Belfast but didn’t go as far as guaranteeing funding.
MLAs from all parties urged the Minister to find the funds for an MBU. Most urged that in the meantime a temporary ward is opened, and that women be given the option to travel to England, Scotland or Wales for treatment with their babies if that’s what they want. APP had briefed the MLAs to ask for this. We’re really pleased that they set out our asks clearly and even praised APP for our ‘tireless campaigning.’
That campaigning is thanks in huge part to the members of APP’s Northern Ireland peer support group who have spoken out in the media and met with politicians. The debate in the Assembly came about as a direct result of our peer support volunteer, Teresa, joining other APP reps to meet with Sinn Féin MLAs. Órlaithí Flynn MLA was moved by her story and worked to bring the debate forward. We can’t say a big enough thank you to everyone who has shared their story with journalists, health officials and politicians.
We’re not quite there yet - we’re still waiting for the business case from the Belfast Trust (which has been chosen as the site of a new MBU). APP has been arguing strongly that we can’t wait another five years for an MBU - we want a safe temporary MBU, as well as the option for women to travel with their baby to Scotland, England or Wales for treatment if that’s what they want. We know that’s not appropriate for most families, but some have told us they would like that option. Orlaithi and other MLAs called on the Minister to make this happen.
During the debate, the Health Minister said that an interim ward isn’t possible, but afterwards APP wrote to him to argue that it is needed, and he has since asked the Department of Health to look at this again.
You can read the text of the full debate here (page 15 onwards) and watch it here (it starts at 11.30).
Meanwhile, APP has been working with an international journalist who visited Belfast in September to talk to women who have been admitted to general psychiatric wards while experiencing PP about their experiences as part of a Europe-wide investigation into the need for MBUs. Reports have been placed in a number of media outlets, including the Northern Ireland publication The Detail. Thanks to Stephanie and other mums who shared their experiences.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by postpartum psychosis, now or many years ago, and would like support or to join our Lived Experience community, including our NI group, email ellie@app-network.org for more information.
Colleagues from Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) have viewed the powerful and compelling new film Die My Love and wanted to share a brief update for our community.
The film is directed by Lynne Ramsay (known for We Need to Talk About Kevin and You Were Never Really Here). It stars Jennifer Lawrence (as Grace) and Robert Pattinson (as Jackson), with LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte in supporting roles.
About the film content
Die My Love is very much a dark, arthouse psychological drama, so isn’t one to be taken literally. It provokes feelings of empathy, leaves you with questions, and you’re free to interpret things yourself.
While the film isn’t explicitly / exclusively a postpartum psychosis (PP) narrative, PP is explored within a mix of broader perinatal mental health themes, including depression, grief, trauma, isolation and alcohol use.
Because of its highly emotional and intense content, APP would urge caution for anyone with lived experience of PP or perinatal mental illness, including partners, as some scenes may be very distressing.
APP’s Jenny and Hannah share their reviews
Jenny and Hannah went to see the film together - a nice way to check in with each other and not watch it in isolation. If you are planning to watch it, take care of yourselves, and know that APP’s peer supporters are here for you. You might also want to go to the cinema or watch at home with a trusted friend or family member.
Jenny, one of APP’s National Peer Support Coordinators, said, “I thought the film was excellent. It leaves you with a lot to interpret and process for yourself in terms of Grace’s experiences, acted out brilliantly by Jennifer Lawrence, while an often bewildered Jackson watches on. It was reassuring that there is never any question of Grace’s love and attachment with her son, it is everyone and everything else that she seems to no longer relate to and detaches from. I would suggest that anyone with lived experience of perinatal mental health issues who is thinking about seeing the film watch some of the trailers and clips first, to see if you feel the tone of it is for you, and be aware that there are some distressing scenes and high emotion throughout. It’s a surreal and chaotic ride that will leave you with plenty of questions.”
Hannah, National Coordinator (NHS Contracts), said, “I thought this film was brilliant. It was intense, confusing, exhilarating, and I found myself mesmerised from start to finish. Die My Love resonated with many parts of my own experience of PP. Visually, it was beautiful yet harsh, and the soundtrack also added to the emotions, especially the music, which included a gorgeous acoustic version of a song my eldest used to dance along to when he was a toddler (can you tell I’m a musician in a former life?!).
Jennifer Lawrence’s performance was outstanding, and whilst Grace’s frustrations with Jackson and his older family members were understandable at times, I did also find myself feeling desperately sad for him at times too. Whilst their baby is sometimes outside of the narrative of their relationship and the chaos of whatever is going on, Grace is a loving mother - I wanted to cheer when she was questioned about her bond and attachment with her son and said “there’s nothing wrong, he’s perfect and I don’t have any problems with that”, voicing what many around her were feeling and she was managing (in the main) to hold onto as a tenuous link to reality, or at least her version of it. A real feast for the senses, soul and deserving of a wide audience. Do take care if you have lived experience or aren’t feeling great, but I loved it.”
Contact APP for peer support
If you have been affected by this film, need any support, or want to meet others affected by postpartum psychosis, please get in touch with our peer support team: app@app-network.org or find out more about APP peer support here.
Working with journalists, filmmakers and content creators
We work closely with journalists, filmmakers and content creators to promote accurate and sensitive portrayals of PP. If you're making content or want to talk about PP, please do get in touch with us: media@app-network.org or find out more here.
An international panel of women's mental health experts has, this month, issued a call for postpartum psychosis (PP) to be formally recognised in diagnosis classification manuals.
Professor Veerle Bergink of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Erasmus University in Rotterdam, led a panel of prominent PP academics, including APP's Professor Ian Jones and Trustee Dr Clare Dolman, in developing a consensus statement. Professor Bergink said: “We argue that with its specific onset, phenotype, phenomenology, risk profile, and prognosis, postpartum psychosis has distinct prevention and treatment recommendations.”
The team have spent several years pulling together clinical and biological evidence and consulting patient groups, to demonstrate that postpartum psychosis deserves official recognition and a new classification should be created within the bipolar disorder chapters.
Although the term is used widely by clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience, official diagnostic manuals currently force doctors to classify postpartum psychosis under a range of different names in different subsections of the classification manual, leading to confusion for patients, clinicians and researchers alike.
Dr Clare Dolman, King’s College and University of Edinburgh, Trustee of Action on Postpartum Psychosis, said: “The case for postpartum psychosis being recognised as a distinct condition in the diagnostic manuals is clear and is supported by the wealth of evidence provided by the Expert Panel. Both as a researcher in this area for 15 years - and a woman who has suffered a postpartum psychosis - I do not understand the reluctance to make this straightforward but much-needed change.”
Dr Jess Heron, CEO, Action on Postpartum Psychosis, said: “This is a momentous occasion. If these recommendations are accepted by the team who oversee the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in the US, it could lead to significant improvements in patient care and research quality globally.”
The issue of diagnosis is a confusing topic for many people affected by PP and their families (partly caused by its absence from diagnostic manuals). For help and support, please reach out to APP’s peer supporters, or join a discussion on the APP forum.
Hollyoaks will explore Postpartum Psychosis (PP) when Cleo McQueen, played by Nadine Mulkerrin, struggles with her mental health following a traumatic birth with her first child, Joseph.
APP colleagues and storytellers have advised on the Hollyoaks storyline which will hit the screens this week.
Cleo went into early labour at 28 weeks pregnant and, assisted by Dodger (Danny Mac), was rushed to hospital. After giving birth, Cleo haemorrhaged and required emergency medical attention.
Baby Joseph needs to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit due to being premature. Cleo, who fell ill after childbirth, is later given the green light by doctors o go home. Red flags start to appear when, at first, she doesn't believe her baby is hers.
This quickly progresses when Cleo starts losing track of time and feels guilty for struggling to produce milk. Cleo’s girlfriend Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) moves into the McQueens house to help support the new mum.
The storyline follows Cleo and her support system - Sienna, Dodger, and her McQueen family – as they convince her to seek help when they start noticing her concerning behaviour.
Cleo will be treated in a general psychiatric ward – she’s not able to go to a Mother and Baby Unit due to Joseph being in the NICU unit.
For this issue-based storyline, Hollyoaks worked with APP colleagues and storytellers, consulting with the cast members involved and advising on the storytelling process.
Nadine Mulkerrin, who plays Cleo McQueen, has said “It’s been a new challenge taking on the role of motherhood and the difficulties that being a new mum can bring, especially the strain it can have on your mental health. We had a consultation with APP [Action on Postpartum Psychosis] whilst filming this storyline, and it was helpful to hear other people’s experiences - my heart breaks for poor Cleo.”
Dr Jess Heron, CEO, Action on Postpartum Psychosis said “Responsible portrayals of PP on popular TV shows such as Hollyoaks are invaluable. With greater public awareness, partners, friends, family members and frontline health professionals will be more able to quickly spot the signs and seek specialist emergency help as soon as possible. We’re grateful to Hollyoaks for playing a part in awareness raising and for their diligent approach to producing a sensitive and accurate storyline.”
Hollyoaks is now available to stream from 7am Monday to Wednesday on Channel 4 or watch live on E4 at 7pm.
This week we're on a mission to support even more women and families affected by postpartum psychosis, and we'd love you to help us. Between midday on 8th October and midday on 15th October, we're aiming to raise £5,000.
Every donation we receive will be worth twice as much – if you donate £5, APP will receive £10, if you donate £25, we'll receive £50, and so on.
Double the donation means double the impact.
Our target of £5,000 could help us significantly increase our offer of help and support for families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP) - a treatable medical emergency that affects around 1200 women in the UK each year.
Being diagnosed with a severe mental illness like PP is frightening and shocking for the woman and those around her. With the right treatment, nearly all women make a full recovery, but the journey can be long, have ups and downs and can feel very isolating. APP peer supporters are there for everyone affected by PP, whether the experience was recent or many years ago. By donating today, you can help us be there for everyone who needs us, for as long as they need us.
Will you donate today and get your donation doubled?
'I don’t know where I would be without APP. I was struggling so much and even with perinatal mental health team involvement I felt so isolated and misunderstood. I was losing hope of any recovery and fighting suicidal thoughts even though I had a much wanted child at last. The understanding and encouragement I’ve received has been everything in my ongoing slow recovery. Thank you.'
Quote from a mum who responded to our Peer Support Survey this year.
Help us be there for even more women and families.
Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK and rates are increasing nationally. APP’s free webinar is open to frontline health professionals working with families in the perinatal period and will outline the actions needed to support and protect women who develop postpartum psychosis.
The webinar, on 8th October, will be delivered in collaboration with The National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University (NCMH) and General Practitioners Championing Perinatal Mental Health Care (GPCPC), and will include talks from APP’s clinical, academic and lived experience experts.
This will be the third in our annual webinar series. 6,438 health professionals have signed up in previous years. Of attendees, 93% rated the training as ‘excellent’; 7% rated it ‘good’ and 100% agreed they would change their practice as a result.
You can book your free place here. There’s no limit to the number of places available - please share the details with colleagues and encourage them to join us for this important event.
A poster to promote the webinar can be downloaded here. Health professionals, please put one up in your place of work!
Health professional training in postpartum psychosis
Book now for our online training “Best practice care in postpartum psychosis” on Wednesday 12th November 2025.
The one-day online course is for professionals who work with pregnant and postnatal women and families. It draws upon cutting-edge research and the experiences of women and families. It will increase confidence in identifying those at risk, planning care during pregnancy, identifying early symptoms, understanding care pathways, and providing high quality, empathetic support to women and families from preconception to full recovery.
1 day course cost: £195. Find out more and book here.
If you would like training tailored for your team, have questions, or to join our training mailing list, please email: training@app-network.org
Support APP’s Big Give campaign
Mark your calendars - we have another Big Give campaign coming up between 8th and15th October. If you can plan a fundraising event in the run up to, or during that week, all donations made through the Big Give site that week will be doubled, at no additional cost to the donor!
Please do consider making a donation during that week if you can, or look out for and share our posts on social media so as many people as possible see them.
Why not make the most of our Big Give week by organising a Big Bake event? (like Nottingham MBU team, above) It's the perfect time for an autumnal afternoon tea, a cake decorating competition, or just a morning coffee break with colleagues - it all helps to raise awareness and funds. Hold it before the 15th October and donate the proceeds via the Big Give and it will be matched - meaning if you raise £50, we'll get £100!
Contact Fliss for more info or to request our free Big Bake info pack, complete with all our favourite recipes!
Welcome to our newest peer supporters!
Welcome to our newest APP peer support volunteers!
We had a special training day in London earlier this month, facilitated by our expert trainer Clare Foster. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was there, and for helping to make a difference
Find out more about peer support on our website here.
New Chester Mother and Baby Unit: update
Sally, APP’s National Training Coordinator, and Jocelyn, Peer Support Facilitator, recently visited Seren Lodge in Chester as part of the Helix Experts by Experience group.
Seren Lodge will be a specialist eight-bedded mental health Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), designed to support perinatal mothers, their babies, and families from across Cheshire, Merseyside, and North Wales. The unit is expected to open later this year.
This new service is being developed through a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England, and NHS Wales.
Reflecting on the visit, Jocelyn said:
“I am really proud and emotional to be part of this. I didn’t have access to an MBU when I needed it, so it’s amazing to see a local service now available in Cheshire and North Wales. At Helix, we’ve been able to provide input from our lived experiences to help ensure the unit feels homely and welcoming - creating the best possible environment for mothers to recover from perinatal mental illness.”
Can you help our new Black mums peer support group?
Are you a Black mum who has experienced mania/bipolar or psychosis after giving birth?
We’re looking for more volunteers from the Black community to help us with our new peer support group for Black mums. We also need more help with our outreach activities, educating health professionals and community groups about postpartum psychosis.
Join us for peer support training in December (online, on Zoom).
We’re delighted to say that APP has been nominated for the Outstanding Partner Organisation Award in Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Stars Awards 2025.
Our amazing team of Nicola Gardner, Alison Barrott and Rachel McVeigh have been working in partnership with the NHS providing peer support to inpatients at Andersen Ward Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Wythenshawe for the past two years.
The GMMH Stars Awards are designed to celebrate excellent work taking place across the Trust. Staff, service users and their carers and families were invited to nominate teams to be shortlisted. There will be a celebration event and awards ceremony in Salford in October.
Huge congratulations to Nicola, Ali and Rachel - we’re all very proud of you!
You can find out more about how APP works in partnership with the NHS here.
Fill in our annual peer support survey
If you have accessed APP’s peer support services this year, please tell us what you think by completing our survey by the end of September.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to fill in. It is open to anyone who has used APP's peer support service (whether that is the online forum, café groups, one to one support via email, video/phone call or face-to-face, creative or wellbeing groups, or had contact with an APP peer support volunteer or staff member). We would also like to hear from any of our volunteers who have delivered peer support.
Your responses will help us improve APP’s peer support and report to our funders on the importance of our work.
The survey can be completed anonymously and is confidential. Any comments or quotes you add will remain anonymous. If you have completed a survey for us in the past, we would still like to hear your experiences of receiving or delivering support this year.
The survey will close at the end of September. Please grab a cup of tea and let us know what you think by following this link.
This is Also Motherhood – an exhibition of portraits and stories of mental health, strength and survival
This is Also Motherhood is a project by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, showcasing the portraits and stories of 10 mothers from across the UK.
The exhibition will be open to the public in central London on 14th, 17th and 18th November 2025. Except for the afternoon of 18th November, the exhibition is open to all.
Author Catherine Cho, APP Ambassador and Trustee, says she is honoured to be part of the project.
It’s a privilege to share my story of postpartum psychosis, and what projects like these so powerfully reveal - is that these are shared experiences and there is support to be found.
Read more about Catherine’s story on Instagram here.
APP’s Development Manager, Rich Baish, joined the What If We’d Known podcast to talk about his family’s experience of postpartum psychosis and loss, and the importance of recognising the warning signs. You can listen to the episode here.
Volunteer Chris Wasley’s epic tour of football grounds closest to every MBU in the UK continues. He recently made it on to the big screen at Colchester! (pictured above).
Chris also recently took part in The Blooming Midwife podcast and talked movingly about his support for MBUs. You can listen to the episode here.
Fabulous fundraisers
Thank you to all our fantastic fundraisers who’ve been taking on all sorts of challenges across the UK to help raise funds and awareness for APP.
Just in the last couple of months, we’ve had an incredible team representing APP in the Great North Run - Gemma, James, Debbie, Jo and Fiona.
Gina and her son Rayan took part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on 14th September.
Our very own peer supporter Eli organised a wonderful coffee morning for friends and family at the end of September.
We have many more fundraisers in action next month too - Emily in the Cardiff Half, Lauren-Nicole, Aaron, Gareth and Dominic in the Amsterdam Marathon, as well as Jessie and Pendra in the Royal Parks Half in London.
If you’re considering a challenge this autumn or in 2026, now is a great time to sign up - we have recently updated our challenge page with loads of new events and exciting activities, including fancy dress Santa festive fun runs, plus iconic events like the Brighton Marathon, Edinburgh Marathon and the Great North Run, as well as so many more.
Diary dates
APP North East face to face café group meet up in Newcastle, Monday 29th September
APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 3rd October
APP Yorkshire face to face café group meet up in Leeds, Saturday 4th October
APP Wales face to face café group meet up in Wrexham, Saturday 4th October
APP neurodivergent virtual café group meet up, Monday 6th October
APP Muslims women’s virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 7th October
APP webinar: essential knowledge for preventing maternal suicide, Wednesday 8th October. Book here.
APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 10th October
APP Lancashire and South Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 13th October
APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 15th October
APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 15th October
APP UK-wide virtual café group meet up, Thursday 16th October
APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 17th October
APP Scotland face to face café group meet up in Edinburgh, Saturday 18th October
APP London virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 21st October
APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 25th October
APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 31st October
Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.
Conferences and events
Recognising and Responding to Maternal Deterioration, Wednesday 15th October
Online conference looking at how MEWS, NEWTT2 and the Perinatal Optimisation Care Pathway have been adopted in organisations across the country and the impact on recognising and responding to deterioration in maternity care. A 20% discount is available for members of the APP network with code hcuk20app . More details and booking here.
Communication Skills, Boundaries, Confidentiality - for Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support, Thursday 23rd October
Online lunchtime seminar for peer support workers and other practitioners supporting parents with their mental health during pregnancy, birth and beyond run by Lifeboat Perinatal Mental Health. More details and booking information here.
If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org.
About the film content
Being diagnosed with a severe mental illness like PP is frightening and shocking for the woman and those around her. With the right treatment, nearly all women make a full recovery, but the journey can be long, have ups and downs and can feel very isolating. APP peer supporters are there for everyone affected by PP, whether the experience was recent or many years ago. By donating today, you can help us be there for everyone who needs us, for as long as they need us.
