Action on Postpartum Psychosis | The national charity for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis

24 April 2025

Our biggest fundraising weekend!

This Sunday sees a huge number of amazing APP fundraisers in action all over the country, and beyond!

Not only do we have five APP runners taking part in the world famous London Marathon, we also have one runner in the Manchester Marathon, a team of 8 in the Antwerp 10 Mile, and a walker taking on the 23 mile Glasgow Kiltwalk!

All of them have been training hard for months and months in preparation for this weekend, as well as fundraising. We're so grateful to all of them and are looking forward to cheering them on on Sunday.

Read on to find out more about each of our amazing supporters.

London Marathon

Holly was lucky enough to secure a ballot place in this year's London Marathon, and fortunately for us, she's chosen to represent APP. Holly has fundraised for us before, running a marathon a month back in 2016/17! She's passionate about supporting APP because her sister had PP in 2013 after the birth of her son, Holly's nephew, Leo.

Holly explains: 'As Leo and my daughter, Imogen, were only born six weeks apart, it was a very challenging time in our lives. APP gave us support at the time and since then I have raised money for them through lots of running events.

The London Marathon is on my bucket list. I watch it on the news every year and feel inspired by all the people lacing up their trainers to raise money for such awesome causes.'

Thank you for running for us Holly! Good luck. Add your support for Holly here.

Satpal also secured her place in this year's marathon via the ballot, and has chosen to run for APP.

Satpal has run several marathons before and but says she decided to support APP this year because: 'The cause is close to my heart as two lovely ladies and their families had to deal with this condition and that because of that I wish to raise awareness'.

Satpal will be running alongside her husband Parv on the big day. Thank you and good luck to you both!

Add your support for Satpal here.

Sarah is a very keen runner, having run eight marathons before! She got her spot in the marathon this year as a deferred Good For Age place from pre pregnancy.

Sarah suffered with mental health problems, including suspected PP after the birth of her baby Flynn, in 2023. She has chosen to share her story here to help other new mums who might be feeling like she did.

She is passionate about raising awareness of PP and wants to give something back by taking part in the London Marathon this year. Sarah is running to raise funds for both APP and the Beadnell Mother and Baby Unit in Morpeth where she was looked after so well when she was ill.

Good luck Sarah! Support Sarah here.

Chay is another keen runner who managed to get a place in the London Marathon via the ballot this year.

Chay is dedicating his run to his good friend and survivor of PP, Jade Lloyd, who was diagnosed with PP four months after having her daughter back in 2021. Jade has inspired Chay to learn more about PP through her dedication to spreading awareness, educating health professionals and helping mothers struggling with PP.

Good luck Chay! You can follow updates from Chay on Instagram here and add your support for him here.

Kate is probably our most experienced marathon runner, this year managing to secure her 4th 'Good For Age' place for the London Marathon, and so decided this year to run for APP.

She tells us why she chose to represent APP this year: 'My close family friend Sally Wilson, (APP's National Training Co-ordinator) suffered from this crippling condition and raising awareness of the condition is very important as spotting early signs can save lives.

I hope to raise some money for this very important charity to help in the wonderful work that they do.

When the going gets tough around the 19 mile mark Sally will be in my heart to spur me on to the finish!'

Kate is fundraising through organising events including a coffee morning next month. Thank you Kate - you're an inspiration! Good luck!

Manchester Marathon

Ellie

We're so proud to have Ellie representing us in the Manchester Marathon this Sunday. It will be her first full marathon and somehow she has managed to fit in the training for it around her busy job as a perinatal psychiatrist.

Ellie says she chose to run for APP because: 'Perinatal mental illness is an area that I feel really passionately about. It was only recently that it was something people didn't really talk about but we now know that improving perinatal mental health can have a huge impact on the whole family for years to come.
When I was a foundation doctor, it was seeing a woman who had postpartum psychosis on the maternity ward that first triggered my interest in Psychiatry. I hadn't even heard of the condition and couldn't believe that somebody who was previously well could become so unwell so quickly after birth to the point that they were unable to look after themselves or their baby. It stayed with me as one of the most shocking and saddening illnesses I had ever come across.
Charities like APP can have a really big impact in this rapidly developing area to provide support to affected families and to improve awareness of this condition.'

Thank you Ellie - have a great run! Do look out for Ellie if you're in Manchester this weekend and add your support for her amazing marathon efforts here.

Antwerp 10 Mile

On Sunday, Elke, Kwame and several members of their family will be taking on the Antwerp 10 Mile run - part of Belgium's biggest running event.

A fab team made up of Elke, Kwame, Tom, Adèle, Ruud, Lau, Vincent and Anne will be running a total of 80miles between them - while Opa and Oma will be looking after baby Nana and cheering the team on from the sidelines!

APP is a cause close to all their hearts, and we're so proud to have them representing us in Belgium for the first time!

Find out more about their challenge, and add your support here.

Glasgow Kiltwalk

Kirsten is taking on the biggest walk available as part of the Glasgow Kiltwalk - 23 miles from the centre of Glasgow all the way to Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond. Kirsten has chosen to support APP with her walk because her sister Jodie (also a past APP fundraiser!) suffered from PP after the birth of her baby.

Kirsten says: 'APP helped my sister feel a sense of normality and comfort during a confusing and traumatic time. By providing Christmas presents to all of the mums in the Mother and Baby Unit that my sister was staying in, that small gesture helped spread some joy during a dark time - while giving the mums a reminder that people care about them. Postpartum Psychosis is a condition my family and myself were unaware of until we experienced it with Jodie, so having a charity like APP to spread awareness to the condition is so important as it is a lot more common than you realise.

The charity helped my sister to realise how many other women experience this illness, which made her feel much less alone and alienated and was a lot less scared knowing that other woman have survived it…so she could too!'

Thank you - we hope you have a great day Kirsten! You can add your support for Kirsten's Kiltwalk here.

10 April 2025

APP Chief Executive Dr Jess Heron inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame

Dr Jess Heron, APP’s Chief Executive, has been inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame, the UK’s (and the world’s) first Hall of Fame dedicated to civil society. It was created to honour and celebrate individuals - from the past and the present - whose work has transformed communities and driven positive change.

Twenty-two inductees have been selected for the inaugural Class of 2025, including Jess, who founded APP as a charity in 2010. The historic pioneers being inducted include Mary Seacole, the nurse who provided critical care during the Crimean War; Olaudah Equiano, writer and abolitionist; and Josephine Butler, a campaigner for women’s rights. Modern-day changemakers honoured include human rights defender Chris Abbott and Kris Hallenga, breast cancer activist and founder of CoppaFeel!

Under Jess’s leadership, APP has grown from two part time staff in 2011 to a team of 28 today – 80% of whom have lived experience. It’s the only UK charity - and one of just a few worldwide - dedicated to supporting mothers and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP), a severe but treatable mental illness that begins following childbirth. APP’s work has precipitated a sea-change in the public understanding of postpartum psychosis, as well as improvements in information, care and support for women and families.

Jess studied Experimental Psychology at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, has a PhD in Psychiatry, and a Postdoctoral Training Fellowship in Primary Care and Public Health. She led the Perinatal Research Programme at The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust for 4 years, before returning as a Senior Research Fellow to Birmingham University. Jess began managing the APP research network at Birmingham University in 2007 and founded the charity in 2010 to address: the high maternal suicide rates caused by PP; lack of accessible patient information; and the lack of support during recovery. The charity became independent of Birmingham University in 2023.

Earlier this year, APP was selected as one of 10 winners of the prestigious 2025 GSK IMPACT awards, a mark of excellence in the charity sector, recognising outstanding work by small and medium sized charities.

Jess enters the Hall of Fame as one of its ‘social pioneers’ for her leadership of APP, setting up ground breaking peer support services, specialist training for health professionals, developing accessible patient information, setting up networks and collaborations to break the silence surrounding postpartum psychosis and for facilitating vital research into PP. Jess said:

I am delighted and feel very privileged to be selected as a Hall of Fame inductee. Much has changed over the past two decades for families affected by postpartum psychosis. It has been a joy to work with so many impressive and dedicated staff and volunteers to improve care and change public perceptions of PP.

The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees were selected by an independent panel of charity and community experts from a long list of public nominations. Malcolm John, Chair of the Induction Panel said;

Selecting the inaugural Class of 2025 was no easy task, as we had an incredible and diverse range of nominees. However, these inductees truly shine a light on what it means to create lasting change. Their impact is felt not just in the UK, but across the world, and we are proud to honour their legacy.

For more information, visit: www.charityhall.org.

8 April 2025

APP Team Away Day

On Wednesday 19th March 2025, the Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) team held a team away day at the University of Oxford’s National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit.

APP is the national charity for mothers and families affected by postpartum psychosis, a severe but treatable mental illness after childbirth.

As a home-working organisation, APP rarely has an opportunity to meet up in person. 24 of 28 members of APP staff were able to attend the day, which began with sessions from APP staff about their role in the organisation and priorities for 2025. After lunch, we heard from APP’s research partners. Prof Ian Jones (National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University) shared findings from clinical and molecular genetic studies of PP. Dr Annette Bauer (LSE) presented on the evaluation of APP’s embedded peer support model. Dr Jo Hodgekins shared research on psychological models supporting recovery from PP. Prof Fiona Alderdice introduced the upcoming James Lind Priority Setting Partnership for Perinatal Mental Health, which will identify future research priorities.

The afternoon was dedicated to working groups tackling issues like: future research; what’s next for APP’s suicide prevention resources and activities; volunteer engagement and journey; Mother & Baby Unit engagement; peer support café group development; and future fundraising.

The day enabled us to reflect on the work we’ve done since the charity was set up and share ideas for the future. It was an excellent opportunity to celebrate APP’s recent GSK Kings Fund IMPACT award, celebrating health charities making a real difference in the UK.

APP must thank the Department of Health and Social Care Suicide Prevention Fund for supporting our staff away day. PP can be a devastating, debilitating illness, and suicide remains a leading cause of maternal death. Care and outcomes have improved since APP began – and today PP accounts for a smaller proportion of maternal deaths than earlier in the century. APP is committed to improving recovery outcomes and reducing maternal suicide rates, by building a lived experience community that collaborates with academics and clinicians to improve support, information, health professional training, awareness, research and services.

Dr Jess Heron, Chief Executive, said:

Our away day was a fantastic opportunity to connect as a team, celebrate our achievements and think about the future. Our strong bonds and communication are key to our impact. Holding the event in such an inspiring space, supported by inspirational researchers who are making such a difference to maternity care, was a real boost to the team. It also gave us the chance to build relationships with researchers, to support future collaboration.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Professor Fiona Alderdice and the team at the University of Oxford National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit for hosting us, and helping to organise the day.

2 April 2025

Brighton Marathon Weekend!

This weekend sees the 15th anniversary of the Brighton Marathon weekend - a huge festival of running across the vibrant community of Brighton & Hove, and APP has its biggest ever team taking part!

There will be plenty of purple clad runners to look out for, with 16 people running for APP in the Brighton 10k, and six in the full marathon.

APP supporter Juliette (pictured above with some of her team) will be taking part, and has rallied her friends and family, assembling a huge team for the 10k event, including her husband Ross, plus Rose, Savannah, Spencer, Theo, Tori, Didi, Grainne, Lia, Sarah and more.

Juliette's friends Bethan, pictured here, and Nick have chosen to go the extra mile (literally!) and will be taking on the full marathon. The team have already raised an incredible £2,500.

Juliette says: 'I'm so grateful to my wonderful friends for taking on this challenge for such an amazing cause. Brighton is an important city to me and has been my home for 15 years. It's great to be taking on a run in my home city, with so many fantastic people by my side. This team has supported me thoroughly each step of my recovery and I can't wait to celebrate with them at the finish line.'

Our other amazing APP Brighton marathon runners include Becky, Alex, James and Rob.

Mum of three Becky has taken on this massive challenge to help raise awareness of PP. She experienced PP after the birth of her twins in 2021.

Back in 2023, Becky raised more than £3200 as part of an APP Miles for Mums and Babies challenge, walking an amazing 43 miles in a single day.

She says her three girls are her motivation for getting out and training through the coldest months of the year, and her family will be there to cheer her on on Sunday. Support Becky here.

Alex has chosen to run for APP as his wife Michelle suffered with PP after the birth of their daughter. Michelle is also taking part in the 10k in Brighton this year.
Support Alex and Michelle here.

We also have two runners who loved representing APP so much before they're back for more! James completed the Paris Marathon for us last year, and Rob ran Brighton for us in 2023.

We'll also have plenty of APP cheerleaders along the route, and our new purple APP flag will be getting its first outing so look out for fluttering in the sea breeze!

Blue skies are forecast so it should be a wonderful event - keep an eye on our socials for updates throughout the day.

Wishing all of our runners lots of luck! Have a great day.

20 March 2025

APP March 2025 Newsletter

APP has won a top UK health award!

We’re delighted that Action on Postpartum Psychosis has been selected as one of 10 winners of the prestigious 2025 GSK Kings Fund IMPACT awards.

Now in their 28th year, the awards are a mark of excellence in the charity sector, recognising outstanding work by small and medium sized charities.

APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, said:

We are delighted to be recognised by GSK and The King’s Fund. Our work brings together expertise from women and families with personal experience, academics and clinicians to raise awareness, support recovery, train professionals and campaign for mental health services for new mums. So much has changed over the past ten years, but we still have much work to do. This award will help us grow and reach more women affected by this frightening illness. Challenging stigma and misinformation and raising awareness is essential to make sure women can access rapid, appropriate care.

You can read more here.

Happy Mother's Day

A very happy Mother’s Day for Sunday, from the APP team.

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.

Join the first-ever APP Adventure

We’ve had an incredible response already to our Mam Tor APP Adventure with dozens of supporters signing up to take part on 21st June. There’s still time if you want to join us though – we’re hoping for a fabulous day in the Peak District.

We now have two distances to choose from too – pick between our 8 mile option, or if that’s not enough of a challenge for you, we can also offer a tougher 20 mile route.

Miles for Mums and Babies 2025 needs you!

APP’s biggest fundraiser is coming soon and we’d love you to be part of it. Our Miles for Mums and Babies fundraiser allows you to pick your own challenge - you choose how and when you want to complete your miles and how many you want to do.

Lots of people choose a number that means something to them - so if they or a family member have been affected by PP, then they might choose the number of miles they had to travel to an MBU or how many days they were treated for - or you can pick another number - whatever you want.

You can complete the miles however you fancy - in the past people have run, walked, swum, cycled, toddled, even rollerskated and paddleboarded - or a mix! You could do it all in one day, over a week, a month or longer. We focus activity in May to tie in with Maternal Mental Health Awareness month but if you’d rather do it at another time, that’s ok too!

You can even rope in friends, family or colleagues and make it a team challenge if you like - work together to complete the miles!

Check out lots of ideas of Miles for Mums and Babies challenges others have taken on, on our Miles for Mums news page from last year and the year before for inspiration.

Get in touch and we’ll send you a free info pack. Sign up and pledge to raise at least £50 and we’ll send you an APP running top or t-shirt too. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Launch of North Central and East London Provider Collaborative

Rachel Evans, APP’s Community Engagement Manager, attended the launch of the NCEL Perinatal Provider Collaborative (PC) in February. The event brought together key partners to review progress, set actions, and explore collaboration in perinatal mental health.

The NCEL Perinatal PC supports moderate to severe perinatal mental health services, aiming to reduce health inequalities, standardise care, and strengthen service user voices.

Rachel (pictured above) said:

Hearing mums’ experiences of Mother and Baby Units and Specialist Perinatal Teams is vital, and it was great to see this at the heart of discussions. Meeting women in person and hearing their stories was invaluable. Dr Alice Haynes from Anna Freud shared key recommendations from the Strategic Health Needs Assessment, highlighting ongoing work and areas needing support - many of great interest to APP. Thanks to all involved.

To learn more about APP’s London project, providing peer support to women and families who have experienced postpartum psychosis, email app@app-network.org. For details of the next London APP Peer Support café, visit here.

Learn more about Legacy Giving in support of APP

March is free Wills month so it’s a great time to think about planning for the future. If you’ve not got round to writing a Will yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about it.

We’ve recently developed a new information pack for anyone interested in finding out more about leaving a gift to APP in their Will. Leaving a legacy to APP could help us make an impact and support women and families long into the future, and it’s less complicated to do than you might think.

You can find out more and request our free info pack here.

Thank you.

Join the #PrioritiseWomensHealth campaign

APP has joined the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and 48 other organisations in a joint letter calling for concrete commitment to ensure women receive the quality healthcare they need throughout their lives.

The letter, sent to mark International Women’s Day, urges the government to put women and girls at the heart of health policy

You can read and share the letter here.

Update: Progress on New Mother and Baby Unit in Chester

As part of our ongoing campaign for more Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), APP staff Sally and Jocelyn, along with local APP volunteers, have been supporting the development of the new unit through the Experts by Experience group, Helix. This has included sharing lived experiences to shape the unit’s design, advising on the facilities, and ensuring the voices of those with experience of postpartum psychosis in North Wales, Cheshire and Wirral are central to planning.

Seren (which means star in Welsh) Lodge is being built at The Countess of Chester site. The new MBU is a 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.

The eight-bed unit will provide vital support for families across North Wales and North-West England and is set to open by the end of the year, with recruitment now underway.

If anyone with lived experience in the Cheshire, Wirral, or North Wales areas would like to find out more about the Helix group you can do so here.

The photograph above shows APP volunteers Sarah (front row, second left) and Nia (front row 3rd right), along with APP’s National Coordinator, NHS Contracts, Hannah Bissett (front row 2nd right) who joined the team for a special ground-breaking ceremony in February 2024.

#KeepMumsAndBabiesTogether

Join our writing for wellbeing Q&A

Author, podcaster and speaker Katherine May is hosting a conversation and Q&A about writing for wellbeing, for those with lived experience of postpartum psychosis.

Katherine May is an internationally renowned writer, podcaster and speaker whose work touches on nature, spirituality, slow living and neurodivergence. She is the author of several books including 'Wintering' 'Enchantment' and 'The Electricity of Every Living Thing'. She also hosts the chart-topping podcast 'How We Live Now'. Visit katherine-may.co.uk to find out more. A huge thank you to Katherine for leading this workshop for our community.

The workshop is being held on Thursday 27th March between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Zoom. There are 25 free spaces available. You can book your place here.

(Photographer credit: Alexa Loy Dent)

Support the Black Maternity Experience Survey 2025

The Black Maternity Experience Survey, which is designed to gather insights about the maternity care experiences of Black and Black mixed-heritage people in the UK, is now open.

Organised by Five X More, it’s open to individuals who identify as Black or Black mixed-heritage, are currently pregnant or have been pregnant and given birth since July 2021, and have accessed their maternity care through the NHS.

You can learn more and access the survey here.

APP is planning a new Black women’s cafe group for those who have experienced postpartum psychosis. If you’d like to get involved in setting up the group or are interested in attending please get in touch with ellie@app-network.org.

Raising awareness of PP: Support for dads and co-parents

APP volunteer Chris and his wife Natalie recently took their season of raising awareness to the Uned Gobaith/Unit of Hope Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Tonna, Wales.

Chris combined the visit with a trip to watch Swansea vs Burnley at the Swansea.com (Liberty!) stadium. Since 2023, Chris has been going to football matches at grounds closest to the 22 UK MBUs. He has a specially made purple APP football shirt that he wears for every match and does his best to get a mention in the matchday programme each time. Chris and Natalie visit each MBU along the way sharing their stories, raising awareness of APP and the dads and co-parents peer support project.

Chris shared his family’s experience of PP in MIDIRS Digest - the evidence based quarterly journal for all maternity workers and students from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). For those interested in the experiences and support needs of dads and co-parents, the article is a must read. If you or anyone else you know would like to learn more about the dads/co-parents group - or to join one of the cafe group meet ups - you can read more on our website or email simon@app-network.org.

We’re really grateful to Chris and Natalie (pictured above with APP Chief Executive Dr Jess Heron), for supporting our work. If you think you would like to do something to raise awareness, we can help by providing guidance on giving Lived Experience talks as well as literature, APP posters and resources. To find out more please email: app@app-network.org.

Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? – reflections from the APP team

From 31st January to 1st February 2025, some of the APP team attended Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? at Waterside Arts, Manchester - a powerful theatre production by Company Four that we’re proud to have supported.

The play, inspired by Company Four founder Gemma Whiteley’s family history research, is shaped by the voices of APP families. It explores postpartum psychosis through historical narratives, reflecting on past and present care.

Peer supporters from our national team, as well as our Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS projects, were at performances to share information and connect with anyone with PP experience.

Read the team's reflections here.

In the media

APP is proud to have worked behind the scenes with BBC One’s Casualty on a powerful PP storyline. You can learn more about Nicole’s gripping storyline and our work with Casualty here.

APP volunteer Juliette shared her PP experience and similarities with the Casualty storyline in Metro.

APP Storyteller, Georgina, also shared her story in Metro, to highlight the importance of seeking help and to give hope to others:

Until it happened to me I had no idea about postpartum psychosis, and I want other mothers to know that, no matter how frightening it is, you can recover with the right help – you just need to make sure you know the signs and how to ask for help when you need it.

APP's Zebunisa and Shaheda were on Ramadan FM. Shaheda joined Zebi as she hosted her ‘Reflect & Refresh’ show, and they also welcomed Iqra Khan for a conversation about postpartum psychosis, recovery journeys, and motherhood.

APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, and National Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson, joined Theo Clarke on her Birth Trauma podcast, to talk about postpartum psychosis and our work.

Fabulous fundraisers

Spring is here and with it comes fundraising challenge season! Good luck to everyone taking part in events for APP over the next few weeks – a special shout out to our Brighton Marathon and 10k participants. Becky, James, Alex, Bethan and Nick will be on the start line for the full marathon on 6th April, along with a team of 16, organised by Juliette (pictured above), taking part in the 10k. Our APP supporters will also be out in force on the day to cheer them all on. We can’t wait to hear how you all get on!

Feeling inspired?
We’ve recently updated our challenge page with loads of new events – including family friendly events like inflatable obstacle courses and ToughMudders across the country; Parallel Windsor - a festival of inclusivity with challenge events for all ages, health conditions and abilities; plus some amazing sounding cycle rides in Pembrokeshire and Surrey. There’s also the London 10k in July which is always a sell out – a fabulous first timer event as it passes all capital’s biggest sights on closed roads. Or if you’re thinking a bit further ahead there are loads of half marathons in October to choose from – in Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, London, Oxford and even Amsterdam! These always fill up fast so register soon if you’d like a place in one of them.

Plus keep an eye on our socials for a big announcement on challenge events coming soon...

We’re delighted that Millets Farm in Oxfordshire has chosen to support APP this year - do pay them a visit if you’re in the area. Jo, their Marketing and Events Manager explains why they wanted to help:

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a cause close to our hearts, following the death of Alex in 2022, a much-loved local mother, teacher, and friend. Alex’s family and friends have been campaigning for increased awareness of this condition ever since.

Our customers can help us to support APP by choosing to add on a small donation when booking tickets to Sprouts Play Barn. Millets Farm will then match every donation made.

We hope that by supporting this charity we can not only raise money for them to continue their important work, but to also raise awareness of this treatable condition impacting families.

Thank you to all at Millets Farm for your support. If you know of a local business that could support APP, please do get in touch.

Dates for your diary

APP London virtual café group meet up, Monday 24th March

APP Birmingham face to face café group meet up, Friday 28th March

APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 29th March

Mother’s Day, Sunday 30th March

World Bipolar Day 2025, Sunday 30th March

APP Muslim womens virtual café group meet up, Friday 4th April

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 4th April

APP North East face to face café group meet up, Monday 7th April

APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 11th April

APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 14th April

APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 16th April

APP London virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 22nd April

APP Northern Ireland virtual café group meet up, Thursday 24th April

APP UK wide virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 30th April

Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.

Events/conferences

First-Ever MMHS Summit – A Celebration of Maternal Mental Health Services, Wednesday 30th April

National online event celebrating the incredible work happening within maternal mental health services (MMHS) in the UK. Find out more and book tickets here.

Annual Birth Trauma Summit, Tuesday 13th May

Face to face event in London featuring speakers and workshops following the themes of “Back to Basics” and “Celebrating 10 years”. Live streams and recordings will also be available. More information and book tickets here.

Hearts and Minds Partnership national meet-up, Monday 19th May

Free meet-up day in Birmingham to connect, support and celebrate the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in perinatal mental health. More information and book your place here.

Improving Perinatal Mental Health Services, Friday 27th June

Online conference with presentations from expert speakers at local and national level. Learning from the most recent MBRRACE- UK Report and roadmap to strengthening perinatal mental health will be shared. Members of the APP network will receive a 20% discount with code hcuk20app. Book here.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org.

16 March 2025

Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go?

Reflections from the APP team

Peer supporters from our National team, as well as our Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS projects, were at performances to share information and offer support.

This production uses storytelling, puppetry, and poetry to highlight the urgent need for awareness and compassion.

Hannah Bissett, National Coordinator (NHS Contracts), said: “Seeing these stories brought to life on stage was incredibly moving, shedding light on the realities of postpartum psychosis with honesty, sensitivity, and impact. We have loved being part of this project from the workshops we were invited to in 2022 culminating in these wonderful performances.”

Alongside the performance, a free exhibition ran until 22nd February, featuring poetry and artwork shared by APP’s lived experience community. These personal pieces offer moving insights into the realities of postpartum psychosis through a variety of mediums including pottery, poetry and post-it notes. Also featured are portrait photos of women who have experienced PP and those who work with families in the Manchester area including a member of APP’s Manchester peer support team, Rachel McVeigh, alongside the Ward Manager of Andersen Mother and Baby Unit in Wythenshawe, Elizabeth Philipson.

Jenny, National Peer Support Coordinator (Online Services), said:

Company Four have done an amazing job of bringing together lived experiences of postpartum psychosis from the past and present through a range of media. The result is an informative, moving and hopeful piece that we are proud to have contributed our voices to.

A huge thank you to Company Four for creating such an impactful production and to everyone who contributed their experiences and creativity. We’re excited to see how this project continues to raise awareness of postpartum psychosis.

You can read Gemma’s story here.

12 March 2025

APP wins prestigious GSK IMPACT award

We’re delighted to announce that Action on Postpartum Psychosis has been selected as one of 10 winners of the prestigious 2025 GSK IMPACT awards.

Now in their 28th year, the awards are a mark of excellence in the charity sector, recognising outstanding work by small and medium sized charities.

APP is the only UK charity - and one of just a few worldwide - dedicated to supporting mothers and families affected by postpartum psychosis, a severe but treatable mental illness that begins following childbirth.

We were selected for the award for designing services which are shaped and delivered by families with lived experience, including our peer support service which is used by more than 1,000 people a year. The award judges were also particularly struck by APP’s work to campaign for more Mother and Baby Units in NHS hospitals, improving care for women requiring inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital setting who would previously have been separated from their babies. In addition, APP was praised by the judges for reaching families at an earlier stage of illness, including pregnancy, and planning for those at high risk of developing postpartum psychosis or a relapse.

The 2025 winners have been chosen out of more than 700 entries. As a winner APP will receive £40,000 in unrestricted funding as well as a place on a highly sought after leadership development programme provided by the health and care charity, The King’s Fund.

Katie Pinnock, Director, UK Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said:

APP’s strength lies in its unique integration of lived experience into its work, ensuring that women’s voices directly shape the charity’s work and wider services.

Through its powerful partnerships with the NHS, dedicated volunteers, and a focused approach to reaching those in greatest need, APP continues to lead the way in offering help and raising awareness among both the public and health professionals to make a lasting difference.

APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, said:

We are delighted to be recognised by GSK and The King’s Fund. Our work brings together expertise from women and families with personal experience, academics and clinicians to raise awareness, support recovery, train professionals and campaign for mental health services for new mums. So much has changed over the past ten years, but we still have much work to do. This award will help us grow and reach more women affected by this frightening illness. Challenging stigma and misinformation and raising awareness is essential to make sure women can access rapid, appropriate care.

For more information about The GSK IMPACT Awards visit:
www.gsk.com/en-gb/responsibility/charitable-investments/#UKInvestments

Further information about The King’s Fund can be found at: www.kingsfund.org.uk

12 February 2025

BBC's Casualty explores importance of friends, family and colleagues spotting the signs of PP

Fans of BBC's Casualty will have no doubt been following Nicole's dramatic postpartum psychosis storyline, the peak of which aired earlier this month.

The storyline is something that we've all been following at APP too - for several months in fact - as we were delighted to be approached by the Casualty team to work with them as they developed the scripts in 2024.

Nicole's story is a little bit different, as she gave birth as a surrogate, so returned to work very quickly, and it was while she was working in the Casualty department that she first developed symptoms of PP. To watch the build up scenes where Nicole's partner and colleague, Ngozi, starts to notice that something is wrong, you can check out the episode that aired on 25th January by clicking here.

The story progressed as Nicole became acutely unwell, making mistakes, becoming confused and suffering from hallucinations and delusions. Eventually, her colleagues spotted the signs of PP and knew immediately that Nicole needed urgent help.

The story is so well done and we're really pleased with how the team handled everything so sensitively. There's a link to watch Nicole's main episode below, but please take care when watching as it is such a strong and powerful portrayal.

Watch Nicole's episode here

Our wonderful fundraiser and storyteller, Juliette Mackenzie, also wrote a fabulous response piece to the story which was published in metro. Juliette is herself a midwife who experienced PP and, much in the same vein as Nicole's storyline, found herself being supported and diagnosed by colleagues.

Read Juliette's response piece here.

We're always keen to hear from producers and programme teams who are working on postpartum psychosis storylines. Should you wish to discuss this with us, please contact our media team by emailing media@app-network.org

30 January 2025

Juliette’s story: I’m a midwife, but I wasn’t prepared for postpartum psychosis

It’s so odd to go completely mad. It’s such a weird experience. I remember quite a lot of it and how vivid and visceral those feelings were and, even though I’d experienced mental health problems in the past, nothing quite prepared me for postpartum psychosis.

I’m a midwife, and I’ve supported other women with perinatal mental illness. I’ve even suspected PP in others so I have some awareness of it. But even with that knowledge and experience, I never considered it was something that might happen to me.

My pregnancy went smoothly and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t feel particularly worried or anxious about anything. I was hoping for a home birth but I was open minded so when I ended up in hospital it wasn’t an issue for me. Being a midwife, there were some things that played on my mind, like the risk of stillbirth, for example, because these are things we have to deal with, and I had some concerns about postnatal depression because I’d suffered with depression before. But I felt so well in pregnancy that I didn’t feel the need for any additional support or referrals

I went into labour and had a beautiful few days at home but after the second day of labour I wasn’t progressing well so I was transferred into hospital. I had quite a lot of gas and air which I felt messed with my head a bit and, because my waters had broken three days earlier and I wasn’t progressing, they suggested I have a C Section.

I agreed but remember having a panic attack in theatre. I couldn’t cope with the feel of it and I think it also triggered some past trauma as well. However, not long after I was holding my baby boy and feeling delighted.

We went home and I remember being quite happy but crying a lot. I struggled with sleep because I kept having nightmares, so I tried not to sleep and just watched my baby. Obviously the midwives that visited knew something wasn’t quite right because they suggested I speak to the mental health midwife. She suggested sleeping pills but they just weren’t touching the sides – I remained wide awake.

I started to notice strange things, too. I’d believe that the films we were watching were about me. Even films like The Aristocats!

I also became completely obsessed with snooker. My partner, Ross, taught me the rules and we watched it on TV and I thought I was really clever learning such complicated rules after giving birth. I’d even tell the midwives all about it.

Then, one morning, I was retching and needing to throw up but I couldn’t. In my mind I thought I was maybe like a baby that needed burping so I lay down on the floor and was crawling around. Then I crawled to see Ross and told him that I’d unlocked one of the biggest secrets of the universe – that when you give birth you have an experience where you become like the baby which helps you learn how to look after a baby. I phoned my mum and told her this as well.

Both Ross and my mum agreed I needed to go back to hospital at this point!

I was stressed and anxious as we climbed into the Uber to go to the hospital. I was rambling and became more and more frustrated that nobody seemed to be listening to me. At the hospital I asked for a laptop and ended up frantically writing a 5,000 word essay to explain my feelings. I stayed there for five days, crying, screaming, thinking I was dying and believing all sorts of strange things – including that my colleagues were forcing me to reenact my caesarean and that my baby had died. They tried giving me different meds to help me sleep but nothing was working. It was hard and confusing being on the ward where I worked with my colleagues looking after me.. My beliefs about different films being about me worsened during this time and I also became obsessed with my phone, sending hundreds of messages to lots of different people, including colleagues and big group chats. It feels embarrassing looking back but everyone’s been so understanding. At that point I was sectioned and taken to the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Bournemouth – quite a trek from my home town of Brighton.

It was a traumatic journey because I didn’t want to go – I just wanted to go home so I was rambling and shouting. I believed the faster I spoke the faster the ambulance would go. I was absolutely petrified because I didn’t really understand what an MBU was at that point – I thought it was something to do with social services.

When I arrived at the MBU, I thought I was dying of an opioid overdose. I think my breathing was slowing, and I felt I was a bit catatonic. After a day or so Ross and my baby came in and we settled into this pattern of Ross coming in all day, me having my baby, and the baby going to the nursery at night

A lady in a patterned short sleeved shirt with short hair and sunglasses on her head, sitting on a bead next to her daughter, who is lying down with her small baby next to her. — Juliette's mum visiting her in the MBU

I was on the MBU for about four weeks, but for the last week I was allowed home on leave to Brighton.

Once my psychosis had passed I was discharged to go home properly, but I fell into a very deep depression. I had so much grief about everything that happened, what I’d missed out on, how embarrassing it all was. Luckily Ross was off work for four months – something we’d planned because I was worried about having depression before I gave birth – but when he eventually went back to work I just had no confidence with how to look after our baby.

Unfortunately, I became suicidal and had to go back to a different MBU to treat the depression a few months later. I started on lithium at this point. I was quite scared of that drug because of the blood tests you have to have to monitor things and it sounds quite intense and scary but it did seem to work and I’ve started to feel much better – although the whole experience still feels incredibly sad and unfair.

My baby is so much more interactive now so that’s really nice, but I was always so excited for that tiny newborn phase and I’m heartbroken that I missed out on so much of it. But we are having nicer times as a family now which I’m enjoying.

I honestly can’t thank my friends and family enough for all their support during my illness and recovery, and I’ve had great help from APP’s peer supporters too.

That’s why a group of us are fundraising for APP by taking part in a 10k run in April.

A woman with her hair tied back, glasses and a smile on her face, holding a tray with half eaten cinnamon buns and a purple t-shirt that says APP on the front — Enjoying cinnamon buns after a run

I’d honestly say to anyone experiencing PP that people are generally more understanding than you might think they’ll be. It’s invaluable for you and your partner to have that extra support so do reach out for help and remember, there’s no shame in having PP. It’s not your fault.

To find out more about Juliette’s fundraiser and donate click here

New evaluation of APP’s peer support within Mother and Baby Units (MBUs)

A new study, led by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) at The London School of Economics, is getting underway to evaluate APP’s peer support projects embedded within Mother and Baby Units (MBUs).

The Realist evaluation of Action on Postpartum Psychosis’ MBU peer suppORT (RAPPORT for short) will assess APP-provided peer support at three Mother and Baby Units in England. Researchers will carry out in-depth conversations with mothers who have accessed support, APP-employed peer supporters and managers, and NHS staff to understand how the charity’s model impacts women's lives and what factors influence its success.

APP provides Peer Support within Mother and Baby Units in Lancashire, Birmingham and Manchester. Peer support provided in other Mother and Baby Units varies across the country. This research, funded by the Three NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Schools Mental Health Programme, aims to understand what works best for different women experiencing severe postnatal illness and their families. It aims to identify the resources needed for effective implementation and assess value for money.

The research will be conducted at MBUs in Lancashire, Birmingham and Manchester. The study team will be looking at the benefits of peer support to women and families as they are cared for on the units, as they recover and come to terms with the illness in the months and years following discharge from hospital, as well as the impact on the NHS staff team of working with the charity and their lived experience staff.

Dr Jess Heron, APP Chief Executive, said:

We’re delighted to be part of this important study which will help advance understanding of effective peer support in MBUs for those with severe postnatal illness

The research findings will be shared with stakeholders working to deliver high-quality peer support in maternal mental health settings, to help inform future service development and policy decisions.

You can read more about the work of the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre here.