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.

A woman wearing a purple APP top, standing in the snow with blue skies behind herJuliette'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.

A selfie of Becky sitting in her car wearing her APP topMum 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.

A selfie of a man, woman and their daughterAlex 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.

Sign up today and be part of our first ever APP Adventure.

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

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 support.

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 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.

23 January 2025

New Theatre Production Shines Light on Postpartum Psychosis and Challenges Stigma

We're thrilled to announce that the theatre production we have been supporting Company Four with to shine a light on Postpartum Psychosis will be opening at the end of this month at Waterside Arts, Sale.

Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? is a powerful and thought-provoking theatre production aimed at raising awareness of postpartum psychosis and reducing the stigma surrounding maternal mental health.

Opening on Friday, January 31st , the production explores historical narratives of women diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, using their stories to reflect on contemporary care and societal attitudes. This unique blend of theatre and advocacy brings together compelling storytelling, live performance, and projected poetry to create an emotionally resonant and inspiring experience.

 A Vital Message for Today

Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a severe but treatable mental health condition that affects around 1-2 in every 1000 births. Core symptoms may include not needing to or being unable to sleep, hallucinations, delusions, confusions and mania. While support and treatment have improved over the years, stigma and a lack of understanding still prevent many women from seeking help. This production aims to foster compassion and understanding by using the past as a guide to inform and improve today’s care.

A Call for Change

This production is not just a performance—it’s a call to action. By raising awareness, challenging stigma, and advocating for better care, Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? invites audiences to be part of a conversation that has the potential to save lives.

Director Gemma Whitley explains,

“This show is not just about history—it’s about the present. By exploring the untold stories of women from the past, we’re inviting audiences to rethink how we view and support maternal mental health today. Theatre has the power to open up these conversations in a deeply human and accessible way.”

 A Collaborative Effort

The production has been supported by APP.  Jenny Stevenson, our National Peer Support Co-ordinator (Online Services), said:

'Members of the APP team and our lived experience community have been delighted to support this production through the research and development process and through creative workshops. Giving a voice to postpartum psychosis and maternal mental health through art is extremely powerful - we are looking forward to seeing the performances and how sharing our experiences of postpartum psychosis has helped to inform the production.'

 Waterside Arts, a vibrant cultural hub in Sale, is proud to host the production. Darren Adams, Venue Manager at Waterside says ‘Waterside is delighted to support theatre artists in developing meaningful discussions around contemporary issues, fostering creativity and dialogue within our community’

Event Details:

Dates: Friday, January 31st 2025 & Saturday, February 1st2025

Location: Waterside Arts, Sale

For further information or to buy tickets, click here. 

To find out more about the exhibition, click here.

Join the Conversation

As part of the production, there will also be a curated exhibition featuring poetry and artwork by women who have experienced postpartum psychosis, offering a deeply personal and moving insight into their journeys. Post-show discussions with the creative team and mental health professionals will further explore how we can collectively work to break the silence around maternal mental health.

 

22 January 2025

APP January 2025 Newsletter

Kick off the New Year with an exciting fundraising challenge for APP!

Are you ready to try something new and exciting this year? If so, we can help! We have access to places in hundreds of running, cycling and swimming events up and down the country, and throughout the year. Tough Mudders, obstacle courses, trail runs, London - Paris cycle rides, full and half marathons and so much more - we have something for all abilities.  Check out a few highlights here.

Get inspired by Rob’s story: Last year Rob took part in the Great North Run for APP and shared an inspiring account:

As soon as we set off, the adrenaline of taking part in such a massive fundraising event kicked in. 60,000 people of all ages and abilities were running and thousands more braved the elements to cheer us on. Hearing a total stranger call your name when your joints are aching with lactic acid is one of the best pick-me-ups going.

Read Rob’s full story here.

If you’re looking for a challenge that doesn’t involve any training - just a lot of bravery - we can also organise bungee jumps and skydives! 

Brighton Marathon weekend - 6th April

Join us for this year’s Brighton Marathon weekend on 6th April. We have a huge team taking part including four marathon runners, plus APP supporter Juliette has gathered a team of 15 of her friends and family to take on the Brighton 10K on the same day.  APP cheerleaders will be out in force so it should be a day to remember! If you'd like to join the APP cheerleaders at this event, please let Rachel know. 

We still have one place remaining for the full marathon - let Fliss know asap if you’d like to join us on the day and be part of the fun.

Miles for Mums and Babies 2025

Miles for Mums and Babies is back for 2025 so get planning your challenge if you’d like to be part of it.  Last year saw APP supporters run, walk, swim and rollerskate their miles to raise funds and awareness. It’s a wonderful way to mark Maternal Mental Health Week in May, but you can start your challenge any time that suits you.

Good luck to The North London Foundation Trust (NLFT) Perinatal Services team who are the first to get going in 2025, with their team aiming to cover 1,400 miles in January and February!

Find out more about how you can get involved with Miles for Mums and Babies 2025 here.

Join APP’s First Ever Adventure -
21st June, Mam Tor, Peak District

This Summer, we’re inviting you to join us for the APP Adventure 2025 in the beautiful Peak District. Taking place on 21st June, we’re aiming to bring together APP staff, volunteers, supporters, family, friends and healthcare professionals from all over the UK for a walking challenge of Mam Tor (“Mother Hill”)

  • Saturday 21st June - Mam Tor Challenge, Peak District, Derbyshire
  • An 8 mile/13 km circular walk, taking approx 4 hours, including Mam Tor, passing through the village of Hope. (A longer 20 mile trek is available too on the same day depending on demand - let us know if you're interested)
  • Total ascent: 514m
  • 11am start time
  • £25 registration fee secures your place (plus a £200 suggested fundraising target)

What's included:

  • Event run by charity challenge organisers Sky Blue Adventures
  • APP T-shirt, medal and goody bag
  • APP fundraising pack and support with your fundraising activities
  • Experienced mountain leaders (fully qualified and first aid trained)
  • Snacks, plenty of laughs, the chance to make new friends and memories!

We already have quite a team signed up. We'd love you to join us.  Register here, or if you have any questions, drop Fliss a message on fundraising@app-network.org. 

Support APP by donating shares to ShareGift

We’ve had a lovely start to the year hearing that ShareGift has chosen APP to receive a £7,500 donation!

ShareGift works by collecting together small lots of shares until there are enough to sell, then donating the proceeds to charities. If you have any number of shares that would cost more to sell than they are worth, donate them to ShareGift, mention Action on Postpartum Psychosis and they’ll do the rest. It’s straightforward and free to do. Find out more: www.sharegift.org or email Fliss on fundraising@app-network.org. 

Finally...

Watch this space for some BIG news about the 2026 London Marathon..!

Health professional training - book now for training in February!

I thought this training was absolutely excellent. It was invaluable to hear lived experience and I felt confident in the absolute expertise of everyone included.

Don’t miss APP’s next health professional training day on the 5th February.

Our workshop, “Best Practice care in Postpartum Psychosis” equips health professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to: 

  • recognise and manage the early signs of PP; 
  • stay up to date with the latest research into causes, risk factors, treatments and best practice care; 
  • Support women and their families confidently from diagnosis to recovery and beyond. 

You’ll hear from those with lived experience, APP staff, academics and clinicians. This highly rated training receives consistently positive feedback, with 100% saying they would recommend it to colleagues.

You can find out more and book a place here.
Student discount is available, please enquire over email for more information: training@app-network.org. 

Evaluation study of APP’s peer support embedded within Mother and Baby Units

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

The RAPPORT study (Realist evaluation of Action on Postpartum Psychosis’ MBU peer suppORT) 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 peers and managers, and NHS staff to understand how the charity’s model impacts women's lives.

Peer support in Mother and Baby Units is patchy and 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 the benefits and essential ingredients. 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. 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.

If you have been supported by an APP peer worker in Lancashire, Birmingham, Manchester or Morpeth, and would be willing to take part, please get in touch: app@app-network.org. 

You can read more about APP’s embedded NHS peer support here. 

Join an APP café group

APP runs regional peer support café groups around the country. We also have an online group for Muslim mums, LGBTQ+ families, grandparents, and dads/co-parents.

Don’t worry if you live in an area without a regional group; we run a monthly peer support group on Zoom for anyone living anywhere in the UK.

All these groups are welcoming and friendly places where you can meet others, share experiences and find out more about APP. Come along, whether you are newly recovering from PP or had PP many years ago.

Information about all our peer support, including upcoming café group dates are available on our website here. You can watch a video here by APP’s Jessie about our London café group which shows how our meetings work. 

Who Is Your Mummy And Where Did She Go? – Show and Exhibition

Tickets are on sale now at Waterside Arts, Sale, Manchester for Company Four’s new theatre production and exhibition, Who Is Your Mummy And Where Did She Go? (pictured above) 

APP families have attended workshops, contributed artwork and shared their experiences to help inform the production, which focuses on postpartum psychosis. Members of the APP team will be in attendance on both evenings - do email us if you plan to attend. We’d love to meet you!

The Show

  • Location: Waterside Arts, Sale
  • Dates: Friday, 31st January and Saturday, 1st February 2025
  • More information and tickets: HERE

The Exhibition

  • Dates: Saturday, 18th January – Saturday, 18th February 2025
  • Location: Waterside Arts, Sale
  • Further information: HERE

PP storytelling

Until it happened to me I had no idea about postpartum psychosis. I want other mothers to know that, no matter how frightening it is, you can recover with the right help.

APP’s fantastic volunteers regularly share their experiences of postpartum psychosis to help raise awareness of PP and campaign for improved services. APP offers support throughout the process, with planning, writing, sharing and reflecting upon the experience.

Thank you to Georgina, Natalie and Jenni whose stories have recently been added to our website.  

If you have been affected by these stories, need any support, or want to meet others affected by PP, please get in touch. 

Dates for your diary

  • APP Sussex and Hampshire virtual café group meet up, Monday 27th January
  • APP Northern Ireland  virtual café group meet up, Thursday 6th February
  • APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 7th February
  • APP Scotland face to face café group meet up in Edinburgh, Saturday 8th February
  • APP Wales face to face café group meet up, Saturday 8th February
  • APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up in Newcastle, Monday 10th February
  • APP UK wide  virtual café group meet up, Thursday 13th February
  • APP North East face to face café group meet up in Newcastle, Monday 17th February
  • APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 19th February
  • APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 21st February
  • APP grandparents virtual café group meet up, Monday 24th February
  • APP Sussex and Hampshire virtual café group meet up, Monday 24th February
  • APP London virtual café group meet up, Thursday 27th February
  • APP Birmingham face to face café group meet up at Canon Hill Park, Friday 28th February

Contact information for all APP café groups is available here. 

Events/conferences

Online singing group for new mums with symptoms of postnatal depression, starting 30th January

Free singing group for women experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress, social isolation, symptoms of postnatal depression or who have experienced postpartum psychosis with babies aged 12 months or below. Run by Breathe Arts Health Research, this is a 10 week programme and women from anywhere in the country can join via Zoom. More details here. 

See me. Hear me. The Conversation, Wednesday 12th February

Maternity Engagement Action event for healthcare professionals, policymakers, community advocates and local Black or Black Mixed Heritage mums looking at disparities in maternal care and discussing actionable steps to create a healthcare framework centred on equity. More details and tickets here. 

Half day introduction to perinatal mental health, Thursday 13th February

Online mental health training for those supporting parents during pregnancy, birth and beyond run by Lifeboat Perinatal Mental Health. More details and booking information here.

 Suicide&Co’s sector summit, Thursday 27th February

In-person and online day for for professionals working with individuals bereaved by suicide. More details and booking information here.

From Harm to Hope: the 10th annual Self Harm and Suicide Prevention festival, Friday 28th February

In-person and online annual conference run by Harmless – the national centre of excellence for self harm and suicide prevention. The day will feature a range of expert speakers and leading academics. Booking information here.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Wales Conference, Wednesday 12th March

Face to face conference in Cardiff, chaired by Mind Cymru. Welsh health and social care providers, employers, public service providers, schools, universities and community groups to discuss the next steps for improving mental health in Wales. More details and booking information here. 

Black Maternal Health Conference UK, Friday 21st March

Face to face event in London for healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, advocates, students and mothers to address maternal health disparities. Organised by The Motherhood Group. More details and booking information here. 

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