Tag Archives: postpartum psychosis

11 June 2026

Rachel and James complete their 84 mile challenge!

Last weekend, APP Peer Supporter Rachel, from Lancashire ran an incredible 84 miles between the two NHS Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) that helped her recover from postpartum psychosis, a rare but severe mental illness, after the births of her two children.

Rachel left The Mount in Leeds at 9am on Saturday 7th June and arrived at Ribblemere, Mother and Baby Unit at Chorley Hospital just before 3.30pm on Sunday, running for almost 30 hours alongside her partner James Ingleby.

Rachel and James were supported throughout the challenge by their official support crew made up of 27 family and friends, with many of the volunteers running shifts, bringing food and supplies, providing childcare, acting as timekeepers, offering moral support and cheering them over the finish line outside Ribblemere alongside their two children, Evelyn and Jude.

On her decision to complete the challenge to raise money and awareness for Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), which was more than two years in the making after James made the ‘wild suggestion’, Rachel explained:

“After the birth of our daughter in 2019, I developed postpartum psychosis, a severe
and traumatic illness that came out of nowhere. I experienced delusions, confusion
and frightening hallucinations and was admitted to the MBU in Leeds.
“It felt like everything had been taken from us at what should have been the happiest
time. I truly believed I’d never feel like myself again, I’m so grateful for the care that
helped me recover.”

After moving to Clitheroe, Rachel became pregnant with their second child in 2021. Although she received excellent support, early signs of postpartum psychosis returned, including anxiety, insomnia and obsessive thoughts about her baby’s safety. This time, the warning signs were recognised quickly, and she was admitted to Ribblemere MBU. Since being discharged with son Jude, Rachel has experienced depression and anxiety but has continued to recover with the right support. This ultimately inspired her to take on this challenge in support of APP to raise awareness of postpartum psychosis and maternal mental health.

Before starting the run Rachel said: “Stepping back inside the MBU this morning where my recovery journey began for the first time felt surreal. We’ve had an amazing send off and the entourage who will be joining us to run down to the canal includes many familiar staff faces which means so much.

“We chose the two MBUs as they were where I received my care, but starting at Leeds was important to me as it was the first step in my recovery. The huge distance of the challenge symbolises the journey that comes after discharge as it is often still a long recovery road.”

The majority of the 84 mile route was run alongside the Leeds to Liverpool canal. Rachel and James were joined by family and friends throughout who made sure they were never alone and kept their spirits up delivering blister plasters, changes of clothes and food supplies which even included fresh pizza!

After almost 30 hours of running Rachel and James were met by volunteer runners, from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), who ran the final few miles with them before they arrived at Ribblemere to their cheering and emotional family and friends, staff from the MBU and APP, crossing the finish line ribbon with their children.

Rachel adds: “I don’t think we realised what a huge challenge we’d set ourselves until we were actually doing it. The early hours of Sunday morning were when it became really tough and there were moments I thought we wouldn’t get to the end. We supported each other through the low points, it was a huge mental battle as well as physical.

“The hardest part was the pain from the blisters and knowing we still had a long way to go, we coped by breaking it down checkpoint to checkpoint. At the checkpoints it was a mental battle of wanting to sit down and rest but knowing we had to keep moving to avoid seizing up and keeping to our time schedule. The highlight was the children surprising us before the night shift team took over, that gave us both a real boost.

“The moment we saw our finish line welcoming team on the canal was the biggest relief and gave us the last push we needed to get to the finish line. When I saw the entrance to the hospital and the supportive signs I was overcome with emotion, we had the best finish line reaction.

“Finishing at Ribblemere was special, as not only was it the second MBU I was cared for in, but I now work with APP and provide peer support to mums and their families at the start of their recovery journeys there. Using my own experiences to help others feels really powerful.

“Thank you to everyone who supported us, donated and made this challenge possible, two years ago I didn’t think I could run 5km and now we can proudly call ourselves ultramarathon runners!”

Rachel and James have raised over £8,000 which will help support mums and families experiencing postpartum psychosis.

Fliss Lambert, Head of Fundraising at APP added: “All of us at APP are in awe of Rachel and James and their amazing achievement over the weekend. We are so grateful to them and all their supporters for taking on this epic challenge. Most people would find the London Marathon alone to be more than enough for one year, but to go on and complete this 84 mile challenge as well really is amazing.

“The funds they have raised could help APP support more than 220 individuals affected by postpartum psychosis. Alongside the awareness they have raised by sharing their own story really could help save lives by ensuring more people know to look out for the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis. Thank you so much Rachel and James!’

You can still donate to Rachel’s JustGiving Page if you'd like to add your support for this amazing challenge.

27 May 2026

APP launches peer support service for Cheshire families affected by postpartum psychosis

We are launching an invaluable peer support service for women based in Cheshire who have experienced severe mental illness following the birth of their child.

Our brand-new North West peer support café group will hold its first in-person session on Thursday 18th June between 10.30am and 12.30pm. It is a completely free service for anyone who has experienced psychosis in the perinatal period (whether recently or many years ago) who would benefit from peer support.

PP is a severe but highly treatable postnatal mental illness that should always be treated as a medical emergency. The illness develops in the days, weeks or months after giving birth and acute symptoms include mania, confusion, hallucinations and delusions. Early warning signs include an inability to sleep, feeling excited, elated or ‘high’, restlessness, paranoia and anxiety – although symptoms can vary between individuals.

Chester-based Jocelyn Ellams, APP’s North West Peer Support Manager, experienced PP in 2015. She said: “I was living abroad when I became unwell with postpartum psychosis. So when I started experiencing psychotic symptoms I felt quite isolated. It was only when I stumbled across APP’s website and reached out to the peer supporters on their forum that I found other women who had been through what I had. It was a lifeline for me during a very lonely time.

“Now I’m proud to give back through my work with APP where our café groups complement the online forum, allowing women to come together and share experiences in a compassionate and non-judgmental environment.”

Hannah Bissett, APP’s National Coordinator (NHS Contracts), said: “We’re really pleased to be expanding our peer support in the North West, with a project at Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit in Chester alongside this new café group in the community for mums living in Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales, in partnership with Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.”

APP already delivers successful and award-winning peer support services working in partnership with NHS Trusts around the UK, as well as managing its thriving online national peer support forum. The charity also provides peer support for partners or close relatives of women who are experiencing or have experienced postpartum psychosis.

Anyone who would like to reserve a place at the first APP Café Group in Chester can email chester@app-network.org

26 May 2026

Rachel's story: When my midwife commented on how much I was doing, I realised there could be something wrong

After giving birth to my first baby, my midwife visited my home and found me cooking a meal. She asked how on earth I had time to cook when I had just come home from hospital. I realised at that point that I was doing too much – but I still tried to brush it off. Soon, however, I was making mistakes, feeling confused and seeing things that weren’t really there.

It was 2016 when I had my first baby. The pregnancy went well, but I was unsure which medication was safe for me to take, so I stopped taking it.

I had been on aripiprazole as I experienced a psychotic episode in 2007 and was diagnosed with acute transient psychotic disorder. I became worried about the side effects and the potential impact on my baby when I was pregnant, so I just stopped having it. The health professionals did talk to me about Mother and Baby Units, on the off chance that I became unwell, but I refused to go and look around because I was distrusting of that, as well.

The birth was quite traumatic because my baby had meconium in his lungs and had to go to the neonatal unit for four days. However, once he was well I felt positive and we all went home as a new family.

When I got home, I thought everything could go back to normal. I was cooking, cleaning, doing the night feeds and barely sleeping. When the midwife asked how on earth I had time to cook what with a new baby I thought maybe she has a point and maybe I am doing too much. But I still tried to brush it off.

Then I started making mistakes with the bottles, dropping them and getting the timings confused. I think that’s when the hallucinations started, as I would look at the clock and it would say 12pm, then I’d make a bottle and look back at the clock and it would say it was 3pm.

I tried to call the mental health team at one point but I kept making mistakes with the phone too. It was an old-style landline and I would hear it ringing but then I would look at where the phone was sitting on its dock and it wouldn’t be there. It was another hallucination.

Eventually, I got through to my husband who came home from work. He spoke with my Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) and together they put a plan in place to get me back on my meds.

While I wasn’t keen on visiting the MBU at first, I was able to access the classes and therapy sessions there as an outpatient which really helped. We started changing how I managed things at home too, sharing the night feeds, and the cooking and the cleaning. I just didn’t know when to stop but I came to realise that I was simply doing too much. Eventually, I started to feel like myself again.

When I asked my husband if I was invisible he realised just how unwell I was

However, when my baby was two I had another relapse. I think the stress of moving house and getting married might have played a role in that, as well as me coming off the meds again because we were trying for another baby. This was quite a big relapse and I remember thinking I was in the movie, Lucy (with Scarlett Johansson), and believing I had these superpowers and could travel through time.

When I asked my husband if I was invisible he realised just how unwell I was and called my mum who came to stay with us. They took me back to see the doctor and together they helped me to get back on my meds. With the meds back in my system I started to get well again.

Once I became pregnant for the second time I stopped taking my meds again for a while. However, during the second trimester I found APP’s peer support service, which really helped. I met with Natalie, attended café groups and never stopped going. It was during the third trimester that I started to feel unwell and I wanted to nip it in the bud. That’s when my CPN persuaded me to get back on my meds. My baby was poorly again with meconium and this time he really struggled and was in the children’s hospital for two weeks. It was so traumatic, we very nearly lost him. I was convinced I was going to relapse but I kept taking my meds and everything was more or less fine. I did, however, experience quite a bit of depression and anxiety that time.

Following a miscarriage, my third baby was born in 2024 with a planned caesarean because I didn’t want to risk any problems with meconium again. This time, I also remained well throughout.

Today, I want to give back and share my story to help others feel less alone and raise awareness. I’ve learnt my lesson about the need for me to take my medication consistently, and I’ve found peer support really helpful, so I want to be able to provide the same kind of support for others.

I now feel I can put my trust in the health professionals, the decisions they make and advice they give as it’s had such a positive impact on my life. I’ve been well now since 2021, and I love working as part of the APP peer support team.

22 May 2026

APP's Rachel Lucas to run 84 miles between NHS units in Leeds and Chorley for maternal mental health

APP peer supporter, Rachel Lucas, is running the distance between two NHS inpatient units that helped her recover from the same serious mental illness after the birth of her children.

Rachel (33), who lives in Clitheroe in Lancashire, will be running around 80 miles between The Mount Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Leeds, and the Ribblemere MBU in Chorley. She will start at 9am in Leeds on Saturday 6 June, and finish in Chorley around lunchtime on Sunday 7 June.

Both units treated Rachel for postpartum psychosis - a rare and severe mental illness that develops suddenly and usually within the first two weeks after childbirth. Rachel has since gone on to make a full recovery and is now the proud mum of two healthy children.

She has also become a peer support worker for APP for whom she’s raising money to help other parents who struggle with this illness.

Rachel has already completed the London Marathon this year – smashing her original fundraising target of £5,000. With her sights now set on a higher target, she’s appealing for support to get her and her partner James over the finish line and over her new target.

“After the birth of our daughter Evelyn in 2019, I developed postpartum psychosis,” said Rachel. “It was a severe and traumatic mental illness that came out of nowhere. I experienced delusions, confusion and terrifying hallucinations. I was living in Leeds at the time and ended up being admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit there.

“It felt like everything had been ripped away from us at what should have been the happiest time of our lives. I genuinely believed I would never feel like myself again. I spent six weeks in the Leeds MBU at The Mount and I’m so grateful to them for helping me recover.”

Rachel, James and their healthy baby girl then moved to Clitheroe where she became pregnant with their second child in 2021. They worked closely with specialist perinatal mental health services and her midwife to create a care plan. In the plan they discussed medication choices, birth preferences and how treatment would look if Rachel experienced postpartum psychosis symptoms again.

Despite receiving excellent support from her local NHS teams, she began to experience early signs of postpartum psychosis again. The symptoms displayed themselves again as severe anxiety, insomnia and obsessive thoughts about her baby’s safety. This time the signs were recognised quickly, and Rachel was admitted to the Ribblemere MBU for treatment.

“James spotted the signs first and was able to raise the alarm quickly. Having prior knowledge, early intervention and support made a significant difference to my recovery the second time. Although it was still scary, I was able to speak up for myself and I remained closely involved in my baby’s care throughout my eight-week stay.”

Since being discharged with son Jude, Rachel has experienced depression and anxiety but has continued to recover with the right support. This has inspired her to campaign for APP - raising awareness of postpartum psychosis and maternal mental health.

“I want both mums and partners out there to know that you can get through it with the right support. If you know what to look out for, you can get the help you need quicker. That’s where support from dads and partners can be critical too. I would not be here today with my children if it wasn’t for the support we both got.

“After having my kids, telling my story for this cause is the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done. With help you can go the distance – which is why I’m running the distance I’m running.”

Help Rachel hit her fundraising target via her Just Giving page.

Follow the run on Instagram – keep up with Rachel and James as they run between Leeds and Chorley on Instagram – follow Rachel @Rachel_lucas93 or visit https://www.instagram.com/rachel_lucas93/.

Find out more about the Yorkshire and Humber Mother and Baby Unit at The Mount in Leeds.

Find out more about the Ribblemere Mother and Baby Unit in Chorley.

19 May 2026

Miles for Mums & Babies 2026

A huge thank you to everyone taking part in APP's Miles for Mums and Babies challenge this year.

Here are just a few of our incredible fundraisers who have stepped up to the challenge in 2026! Click on their names to read more about their stories and add your support to their fundraising pages.

Melissa: Walking 63 miles to represent the number of days she received treatment for in both the Morpeth and Leeds MBUs.
Melissa says: 'I attended an online session hosted by APP where I spoke to multiple other mums who had been through psychosis too. Hearing their stories made me feel less alone and normalised my experience in some way and for that I'm grateful as it's helped me process what has happened and move into a happy place.
I'm now in a position where I feel happy, I'm enjoying motherhood and feel it's time to give back so that other mothers/families who go through this can continue to receive support.'

Jade: Walking a total of 43 miles over the month of May - the distance from her home to the Mother and Baby Unit she was admitted to.
'When I experienced postpartum psychosis, I was in complete shock as I hadn't heard of the illness. I didn't know it was a possibility following childbirth, so not only was I coming to terms with what had happened, I was having to learn about the illness and understand what my mind had gone through.
I will use the time I spend walking to reflect and to notice how far I have come and want to inspire other mothers who are experiencing the same.'
Jade uses her platform on Instagram to raise awareness of PP - you can follow her here.

Kathryn: Walking 75 miles in May
Kathryn spent one month in Nottingham MBU receiving treatment, and says 'pretty much every day between my husband, parents, brother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and my friends, they drove the 75 mile journey to visit my son and I at the Mother and Baby Unit.
I had no knowledge or understanding as to what postpartum psychosis was before I experienced it myself. That is why I decided to join in with the APP challenge - Miles For Mums and Babies for Maternal Mental Health Awareness. I have decided to walk 75 miles throughout May to reflect the journey that was made to see and support us at the Mother and Baby Unit.'
Kathryn is also sharing her journey to raise awareness on Instagram.

Jodie: 37 miles in a week
Jodie is a mental health nurse and she chose to cover 37 miles because it 'represents the 37 women that were admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit in 2025 that I work within'. Jodie smashed her miles target, completing it on World Maternal Mental Health Day and said several people stopped her during her walks to ask about her t-shirt - brilliant awareness raising too!

Heather: Family 2k/10k run in Chorley
Heather got her whole family involved with Miles for Mums and Babies. Her husband took on the 10k run while she and her daughter completed the 2k family fun run.
Heather says: 'I suffered with postpartum psychosis when my son was just 12 weeks old. It's something myself & my family had never even heard of and affects around 1 or 2 in 1,000 births in the UK. I was very lucky it was caught early and after spending 6 weeks in the Mother & Baby Unit and lots of after care in the 12 months that followed, I have almost made a full recovery. Action on Postpartum Psychosis has played a huge part in this, but some mums aren't so lucky and if not treated early this illness can become life threatening for mum and baby. I'll be running with Isla because she's been by my side through all of this and is the strongest little girl I will know! Her resilience is phenomenal 🩷'

Olivia: Walking 68 miles in the month of May.
Olivia says: 'I am setting myself the challenge of walking 68 miles in the month of May because this represents the distance between my house and the nearest Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Morpeth. My family had to drive this distance anytime that they wanted to see me and my daughter whilst I was at Beadnell for four months. My husband had to move across to Northumberland so he could visit me daily with the expense of booking local houses often for weeks or months at a time. Many families do not have the same support system so this can drastically affect recovery times and the bond between mother and child.'

Kayleigh: Completed the Sunderland Family Fun run with her husband, daughters and nephews!
Kayleigh has taken part in our Miles for Mums and Babies challenge for several years now, but this year she got the whole family on board too!
'I was a patient at St George's Mother and Baby Unit in Morpeth for 6 weeks which massively helped with my recovery as I was not separated from my baby. Some mothers aren't so lucky and if there wasn't a space available in a Mother and Baby Unit they would be placed in a General Psychiatric Ward and there are many parts of the country without. I'd love to raise money for Action on Postpartum Psychosis who campaign for Mother and Baby Units, so that women affected by postpartum psychosis can receive the treatment they need.'

Ashlea: Walking 64 miles in the month of May - the distance from her house to the inpatient ward, then Mother and Baby Unit where she was treated.
Ashlea says: 'After my baby was born I became severely unwell incredibly quickly and was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. It’s a very long story but I’ve made a full recovery and want to raise awareness for this illness and money for this great charity.'

Oxfordshire Perinatal Mental Health Team: 1,830 miles in May as a team!
They say: 'For a family in Oxfordshire , the average round trip to our 'local' MBU is 114 miles.
With around 16 women or birthing people within Oxfordshire requiring additional support like this in the perinatal period (based on national stats), this is 16 potential journeys:
- during a vulnerable and uncertain time
- to a scary and unknown place
- away from families and support networks
To help raise awareness, and money, towards support and resources for those impacted by Perinatal Mental Health struggles, some of those involved in Oxfordshire Maternal Mental Health are coming together to complete 1830 miles through walking/ running/ cycling/ swimming. That is the equivalent of 16 journeys back and forth to our local MBU!'

The Rainbow MBU, Essex: Walking a minimum 132,000 steps as a team during the month of May.
This represents the total number of miles it takes to get to our neighbouring Mother and Baby Units - 132 miles. They are incorporating walking groups in the ward timetable and some of the staff team are also walking to and from work.

The Beeches MBU, Derbyshire: 452 miles in May.
The Beeches team are no strangers to our Miles for Mums and Babies challenge, having also taken part in it in 2024.
This year the team have decided to 'aim to walk, run swim or bike (however people want to get their miles in!) 452 miles throughout the month - the distance from the UK's northernmost MBU (in Edinburgh) to the most southerly (in Dorset).
At the Beeches we look after mums and babies and families from all over the country. Many mums and babies travel hundreds of miles to be together whilst mum is treated in hospital for a severe maternal mental illness. Dads, partners, families and friends may have to travel hundreds of miles back and forth to visit mum and baby.'

Lucinda: Walking or running every day in May.
Lucinda says: 'As someone who has experienced postpartum psychosis, I have first hand experience of just how devastating this illness can be and how needed this charity is.'

Kelly: Walking 85 miles in May - the distance from her home in Gloucester to the MBU in Winchester where she was treated after the birth of her baby.

Chelsea: walked 51 miles during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week to help raise awareness that all women should be able to access the mental health services they need when they need them.

Abigail: Walking/jogging 100 miles in May after her sister in law suffered with postpartum psychosis last year.
Abigail says: 'I’d like to raise awareness for new mums as well as families. This time last year, our family had never heard of it and now it’s an important time to be proud of our beautiful mum and baby in our family and help others.'

Thank you to every single one of our Miles for Mums and Babies challengers this year, and to everyone who has supported them. You are all amazing - raising funds and awareness that will help APP to be there for even more women and families in future.

It's not too late to get involved if you fancy joining in - you can take on a Miles for Mums and Babies challenge any time of year! Find out more and request a free pack here.

5 May 2026

APP supports new play about PP starring Kimberley Nixon

Baby Brain, a brand new play about motherhood, giving birth and postpartum psychosis, starring BAFTA winner Kimberley Nixon (C4’s Fresh Meat, Wild Child), is set to tour the UK.

Members of the Action on Postpartum Psychosis team were given the opportunity to review the script, co-written by Kimberley and writer/directors Tim Clague and Danny Stack, and we’re now collaborating with the team to support the tour and raise further awareness of postpartum psychosis.

The story, inspired in part by Kimberley Nixon’s personal experience of postnatal mental illness, uses stand-up comedy as a storytelling technique, providing a light and humorous contrast to some of the more difficult themes explored.

Stories of postpartum psychosis in literature, TV, film and theatre are incredibly important, reaching thousands and sometimes millions of people. APP works with scriptwriters, novelists, playwrights, filmmakers and others to ensure portrayals of postpartum psychosis, whether factual or fictional, are informed by lived experience and expert knowledge.

Dates:
Pontypridd, YMa: 30 May, 6pm
Droitwich, Norbury Theatre (Rik Mayall Fest): 31 May, 1pm
Poole, Lighthouse: 2 July, 8pm
Manchester, Fringe: 6–9 July
London, Camden Festival, Bridewell Theatre: 10–12 August
Edinburgh Fringe: 21–30 August
Find out more and book tickets here: www.nelsonnutmegpictures.com/babybrainplay

A note for our lived experience community: Some people may find the content challenging, depending on where you are in your postpartum psychosis journey. Please take care when deciding whether and when to engage with it. If you’d like to find out more about the themes or access support, please get in touch with us.

22 April 2026

Our London Marathon 2026 APP Team

The London Marathon is one of the most iconic sporting events in the world, and APP are so excited to have our biggest ever team taking part in 2026!

Our 2026 London Marathon Team come from right across the UK, representing all parts of the APP community and we're delighted to introduce them all to you here!

To support any of our amazing runners, simply click on their name below and it will take you directly to their fundraising page. Thank you!

Sophie Ashman

Sophie was lucky enough to get a much coveted ballot space in this year's marathon and we're delighted she chose to run for APP!

Sophie works as a perinatal mental health nurse at Florence House MBU in Dorset so has seen first hand the devastating impact postpartum psychosis can have. She says: 'I’ve seen how life-changing it can be when women and families get the right support at the right time and that’s why I’m fundraising for APP, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting women and families affected by PP. They provide peer support, campaign for greater awareness, and fight for better services so no one has to face this terrifying illness alone.

This cause is incredibly close to my heart. So even when I’m dragging myself through long training runs, battling self-doubt, and questioning every life decision by mile 20, I’ll be doing it with love, purpose, and deep respect for the strength of the women and families I’ve worked with.'

This will be Sophie's first ever marathon and we can't wait to cheer her on.

Kayleigh Baggley

Kayleigh wanted to take on the London Marathon for APP after experiencing postpartum psychosis after the birth of her son in 2023. She has shared her story to help others

She says: 'I'm fundraising for APP by running the London Marathon in the hope of raising awareness for this incredible charity, and to share my story to bring hope to those mothers and families currently going through something similar.

I am now back to myself again, living a full and happy family life, alongside working full time as a high school teacher. I remember being frightened that I would never be able to do any of this again when I was unwell but now I am living proof that you can recover.'

Kayleigh completed two marathons before having her son, but the London Marathon will be her first since becoming a mum. We're so proud to have Kayleigh representing APP.

Amy Corderoy

Amy is running in memory of one of her best friends, Cara, who she tragically lost in 2024 due to a relapse in her mental health related to pre and postpartum psychosis.

Amy has had so much support from her and Cara's friends and family through the hard months of training and says she wanted to 'raise some money, and awareness on the amazing work APP does for mothers and families going through challenging times pre and post birth'.

Amy has completed the London Marathon once before in 2019, and we are honoured that she has chosen to take on this epic challenge for a second time, this time for APP in memory of Cara.

Tim Darcy

We're delighted to have Tim taking part in the London Marathon for APP after he successfully completed the Great North Run for us in 2024.

Tim says: I'm supporting APP because they have been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units (MBU) for over 10 years.

My family have first hand experience of not being able to access a local MBU. In the summer of 2015 when our baby daughter was around 10 weeks old, my wife Jan needed mental health support as she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. There was no bed available at the nearest MBU in Leeds, so Jan and the baby were taken by ambulance to Manchester where Jan was voluntarily admitted to the Andersen Ward MBU. It was tough to separate our family - we had a six year old boy at home in York without his Mum and new baby sister.

Now, ten years on and with a healthy family, we would like to give something back to enable help to be made available for other families in a similar situation.'

This will be Tim's first London Marathon and we'll be cheering him on alongside his family.

Ian Fryer

Ian is another of our lucky ballot place entrants this year! It's taken him a long time to get here so we're even more delighted that he chose APP to support.

Ian says: 'After 11 failed attempts to get into London via the ballot, this year the odds were in my favour (I think). I haven't been a regular runner for a few years but this is a bucket list item so I'm back out denting pavements.

When it came to a charity to fundraise for I was considering a few of the big options and then a friend suggested one that helped them when they were going through a difficult time and I couldn't think of a better way to pay back people who helped someone you care about. So APP are my choice and I'll be proudly wearing purple on the day.'

We couldn't be more proud to have you wearing purple for APP Ian! Thank you for choosing APP.

Rachel Lucas & James Ingleby

The London Marathon alone is not enough for Rachel and James... they've decided to follow it up in June with an epic 85 mile run/walk from The Mount MBU in Leeds to Ribblemere MBU in Chorley along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

They're taking on these two epic challenges together because they are passionate about the difference APP has made to their lives, as well as to so many other families. Rachel is an APP Peer Supporter herself, working at Ribblemere MBU.

'Getting support from APP and being able to give back too is so important to me and to James, as he also benefited from APP’s partner peer support.

Training for these events will be a huge physical and mental challenge. Each step we take will be driven by the strength we’ve witnessed in the women and families I support and who we have both met through APP - and in ourselves. Taking part in these challenges for APP is more than just running; it’s a celebration of recovery, a way to raise vital funds, and a promise that no one should have to face Postpartum Psychosis alone. Above all, it’s a chance to make our children proud. 💜'

We're in awe of what you're taking on for APP - what a huge challenge. Thank you so much.

Rory McBride

Rory is coming all the way from Northern Ireland to take part in the London Marathon for APP.

'In April 2023, when our son Oscar was born, our family faced one of the hardest experiences of our lives. Megan became seriously ill before and after giving birth, suffering a severe mental health crisis known as postpartum psychosis.

During those difficult weeks, Megan and Oscar were cared for in a Mother & Baby Unit (MBU) in East London—a lifeline that helped Megan make a full recovery. I found hope reading recovery stories on APP's website, and they have connected Megan with other mums who had been through the same.

I felt lucky to have access to an MBU but it really is a postcode lottery. In Northern Ireland, there are still no MBUs at all. Families here deserve better, and APP is campaigning to open the first. We’ve now moved back to Northern Ireland, where the nearest MBU is 188 miles away—seven marathons across the Irish Sea.'

Rory and his family have generously shared their story and helped to raise so much awareness. You can read more about their experience here.

Thank you Rory, we can't wait to see you in London!

Sarah McLeary

Sarah is running the London Marathon for APP after her own personal experience of PP after the birth of her son just a couple of years ago.

Sarah says: 'I was incredibly lucky to receive urgent care in the Mother and Baby Unit at St John’s, where Murray could stay with me and Robyn could visit every day. After we came home, recovery was still tough, but APP were there with understanding, compassion and vital support, alongside the amazing staff at the MBU. Because of support like this, families going through postpartum psychosis don’t have to face it alone.

Running the marathon now feels like a small way to give back and help raise awareness so other families can get the same support when they need it most.'

Sarah We are so proud of you Sarah for taking on this challenge for APP!

Kate & Zoë Parry

Mother and daughter duo Kate and Zoë are flying all the way from Canada to take part in the London Marathon for APP.

They've been training hard through the snowy Canadian winter months and are ready to take on this challenge.

They wanted to run for APP for their life long family friend (and APP trustee) Anna, who had postpartum psychosis after the birth of her baby.

Kate and Zoë say: Seeing the strength and courage Anna has shown - and the amazing work she now does with APP - has inspired us to take on this challenge. We want to run for her, and for all the women and families who have been affected.

Anna says: 'Kate was a great support to me when I was ill after having Elsa back in 2005. Zoë and Elsa have grown up together and we're so touched that they are doing this for APP.'

For Kate, this will be marathon number 6, and for Zoë, her very first marathon! Having been born in London, Zoe's excited to run through the city where she's from; and Anna and Elsa will of course be cheering for them on the side lines. It will be very special to have a mum and daughter representing APP this year.

Lily Pinsent

Lily only started running in February 2025, so taking on the London Marathon will be a massive challenge, but one she is more than ready for, and we are very proud to have her run for APP.

Lily says: 'I can't quite believe I'm saying this, but yes I am running the 2026 London Marathon! The only thing getting me through this is doing it for this special charity.'

Lily had PP after the birth of her baby five years ago, in the midst of Covid lockdowns - a terrifying experience for her and her family. Luckily she was able to receive the treatment she needed in an MBU, but she knows not everyone in the UK is able to access the essential care and treatment an MBU can provide - and this is the reason she wanted to run in London for APP.

Rob Preston

Rob is running for APP after his wife was diagnosed with PP after the birth of their baby in 2023.

Rob says: 'It was a horrible and scary thing to go through but with medication and other support, including from APP, Briony's condition is now stable.

APP's peer support services have been particularly helpful for Briony and me. The charity also facilitates research, raises awareness and campaigns for improved services.'

We are particularly grateful to Rob for accepting his place in TeamAPP this year - he only came aboard in January after another runner was injured - so it's an even more epic achievement that he's been able to take on the training and fundraising at short notice and we are excited to give him all our support on the big day.

John Wheatley

John is another last minute addition to our team - again replacing an injured runner. We're so grateful he was able to join us, and that he was already marathon ready!

John's wife Rachel recently qualified as a midwife and as the final dissertation for her degree, she chose to write about the challenges facing families with PP.

John says: 'With the level of investigation required to create this academic work, Rachel found that PP was an area of postpartum care that was terribly overlooked. Having talked to Rachel extensively about PP, I am proud to step in and offer my full support for the amazing charity that is APP.'

We are so glad you were able to join our team John, it's wonderful to have you and your family as part of our community.

If you're in London this weekend, please do head down to the marathon route and look out for our runners! Or if you're watching the coverage on the television, keep an eye out and see if you can spot them in their purple tops.

A massive thank you to everyone who has supported our London Marathon team - the funds raised through just this one event could help us run our peer support service for a quarter of a year!

Feeling inspired? We have guaranteed places in next year's London Marathon too! More details on how you could apply to be part of our 2027 team coming on Monday 28th April.

8 April 2026

Rachel’s story: I had never heard of postpartum psychosis before experiencing it – now I’m running a marathon to raise awareness

My first pregnancy was fairly straightforward – although I was incredibly anxious about something going wrong towards the end. However, after giving birth, and following my daughter’s newborn check, she was showing a few markers for Down’s Syndrome, so they decided to carry out some testing, which was a huge shock because nothing had been picked up during pregnancy.

When the results came back a few days later they confirmed that she didn’t, in fact, have Down’s Syndrome, but by that point I hadn’t slept in four days. I had been so anxious and I was convinced that if I fell asleep something bad would happen to my daughter.

While I was still on the ward I told the midwives that I didn’t feel quite right and that I was having these strange thoughts that I couldn’t make sense of, but they said I was probably just stressed and told me to try get some sleep.

After going home, however, things started to get worse. I was still unable to sleep, my thoughts were racing and I started to have delusions. One night I became convinced that I was in labour again and that I had dreamt everything up to this point. I woke my mum who had been staying to help and keep an eye on me, and my partner, James, and I said I was worried because I didn’t feel right and I wanted to go to A&E to get help.

So we went to A&E in the middle of the night and hours later I was assessed by the mental health team who thought I had heightened anxiety (which seemed reasonable given the stressful few days we had) and they were going to send me home. But while I was being assessed they realised I had a temperature, so they kept me on the ward in case I had contracted an infection.

I stayed in hospital and deteriorated a lot overnight and by the morning they realised there was more than anxiety going on. By this point I didn’t know where I was and felt trapped. I became suspicious of midwives on the ward, and even my family members visiting. I was suspected of having postpartum psychosis (PP) and they found me a bed on a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). But because they thought I had an infection, they wanted me to stay on the ward for another few nights before being transferred as I needed IV antibiotics. Over the next night, however, I became extremely unwell. I was experiencing hallucinations and was very agitated, and it became unsafe for me to stay on a postnatal ward, so they had to section me and move me to the MBU in Leeds. I was there for six weeks.

During my first two weeks on the MBU I was convinced I was in prison and I believed I had harmed my baby. At times I even thought I had died myself. I was too unwell to care for my daughter, so it was decided that James would take her home overnight and bring her in every day to see me at first. As I started getting better week by week, I was able to have her stay with me and eventually have leave at home. I am grateful to have been able to get a bed on an MBU as even though I was unwell I was still able to be part of many of her ‘firsts’ while on the ward - her first bath and our first walk with the pram. I also continued to breastfeed when I could which helped our bond.

After returning home full time, I just wanted to put the experience behind me. I was in denial that it ever happened, and I didn’t want to talk about it. I also felt a sense of grief that so much time had passed and I’d missed out on what we pictured life with a newborn to be like. I had some APP leaflets but, at first, I didn’t reach out to anyone, and then lockdown hit.

I was quite lucky in that we had moved in with my mum before lockdown and my brother and sister were there too, so we weren’t isolated or anything and we had lots of help on hand.

But then, coming up to my daughter’s first birthday, I decided to reach out to APP. I had been reading stories on the website and the forum of people who had been through similar experiences, and I read APP ambassador, Laura Dockrill’s memoir too, and it really resonated with me. I then started joining the APP café group and, after a while, I trained as a volunteer. I was glad to finally be able to talk about my experience with people who understood, and it really helped me to get involved too.

Then we decided we wanted a second child. We knew the risks were high, but I was confident that it all happened the first time because of the stressful experience that we had. I had support from APP and the perinatal team from very early on in my second pregnancy and they helped me put a plan in place in case I did become unwell again.

The birth was great and everything seemed OK at first, but then about a week and a half later I started having similar symptoms - heightened anxiety, being unable to sleep, feeling manic and being obsessive about my newborn's safety and health. James recognised the signs and quickly helped to get me a bed on an MBU – which I went to voluntarily.

Unfortunately, I became really unwell very quickly and was sectioned again three days later. Again I thought I had harmed one of my children and I didn't trust the staff. Due to covid restrictions only James could visit at first, so I couldn't see my daughter for two weeks, and she couldn’t spend time with her new baby brother. My mum couldn't visit either which was really difficult for James, as he had our daughter to take care of at home this time too so couldn't visit us as much as the first time. Luckily the restrictions started to relax during my stay, so they could both visit after a while.

I was there for eight weeks in total, but I had my baby with me the whole time which was much better. I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of staying with my baby to the professionals during my care planning meetings. The second time was still frightening, but I knew that I was going to get better and I was able to advocate for myself more. Having the support and the knowledge made a huge difference.

After being discharged the second time, I did struggle with depression and anxiety, but I’m doing much better now and, around two years ago, I applied for a peer support role with APP and started helping to run the café groups and supporting mums on the ward, too. I’ve also shared my story for lived experience training sessions with health professionals. Getting support from APP and being able to give back too is so important to me and to James, as he also benefited from APP’s partner peer support.

That’s why we’re both training to run the London Marathon – as well as completing an 85-mile run/walk between Leeds and Chorley MBUs – the two units I was treated in.

Before I had the children I was always really active – I enjoyed running and going to the gym. After having the children I lost my love of fitness so decided to get back into it by doing the Couch to 5k programme. Running was the easiest thing to fit around family life, and I’ve built it back up from there. Running also allows me to clear my head and has had a positive impact on my mental health.

James had always wanted to take part in a challenge for APP, as he was so grateful for being able to speak to another partner for support and he said that, when he did, it was a big turning point for him. He also knows how much APP has helped me, so it was James who came up with the MBU challenge, but when we saw that APP had London marathon places, we thought we could maybe do that as well!

Having PP has been really tough, but it’s also made me a much stronger person. I think I used to have a lot of fear around challenging myself before but now I’ve been through PP I feel as though I can get through a marathon. I have met some incredibly inspiring people through APP, and their strength will be motivating me through both challenges too.

Now, I want to raise money to help APP continue to support other families but I also feel strongly about raising awareness because I had never heard of postpartum psychosis before it happened to me and having just some knowledge of it, or knowing where to find help would have made a big difference.

To sponsor Rachel and James, visit their Just Giving page here.

13 March 2026

Laura’s story: I told my doctor I was hallucinating, but they told me I had anxiety and sent me home

If postpartum psychosis (PP) was included as a formal diagnosis in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), resulting in more awareness and consistency in approaches to treatment, I believe I could have got the help I desperately needed much sooner.

There are so many different mental health conditions in the DSM, and it makes me wonder if the barrier to PP being included is because it’s not as common as some other illnesses. But just because it’s not as common doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And given that it is one of the most serious perinatal mental health conditions, I’d argue that we need as much awareness and clarity as possible.

It was 2024 when I experienced PP – although at first I was told it was anxiety and lack of sleep. Not everyone who experiences PP has enough insight during the illness to be able to identify what is and isn’t a hallucination, but I was lucky in that I knew I was seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. But even with me directly informing the doctors and midwives of this, they assured me I wasn’t really hallucinating, I was just exhausted, experiencing anxiety and I needed to rest. I also had other doctors acknowledging the hallucinations but telling me that it was quite normal postpartum.

But hallucinations aren’t normal postpartum. They are, however, a core symptom of PP. I just don’t think they had the knowledge or awareness of it to diagnose me.

Hallucinations weren’t the only symptom I was displaying, of course. There were delusions, confusion and strange thinking, too. I remember waking up in hospital after giving birth and asking the staff whose baby this was. And when I went home, I accused my husband of stealing my baby. Again, I was told I was just tired.

During all of this, I was prescribed sertraline for my ‘anxiety’ and I became suicidal. After several weeks struggling at home and being reassured by doctors that everything was normal, my husband called me an ambulance because I thought I was having a heart attack. It was only then that I was finally diagnosed with PP. But if I had been diagnosed sooner, all those times when I talked of hallucinations and exhibited delusional thinking, I might never have reached that critical, suicidal state.

That’s why I believe PP should be included in the DSM, and it should be included in midwife training, too. The symptoms I was displaying and informing the health professionals of were all classic symptoms of psychosis. But if it’s not formally recognised, it’s more likely that these signs will be missed, which makes misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment also more likely – which can be incredibly risky.

Nobody should reach the critical state that I did – or worse - before they are diagnosed. A formal diagnosis could raise awareness, improve training and, ultimately, save lives.

20 February 2026

Kayleigh’s story: I’m running the London Marathon to show that you can fully recover from postpartum psychosis

I had never heard of postpartum psychosis before I experienced it and do not recall it being mentioned on any of the prenatal courses that I had studiously attended! It came as a total shock as I had always thought of myself as having very good mental health. I was very excited to become a mum, however, this incredibly exciting time was clouded by a terrifying experience and I couldn’t see any way through it – I certainly didn’t think I would ever recover.

I’m now sharing my story and training to run the London Marathon to increase awareness of this condition and give hope to those currently experiencing it.

I want others to know that you can make a full recovery and go back to leading a normal and very happy life.

My story

We were absolutely delighted to find out we were pregnant, it was a little earlier in our relationship than we had planned but all the same, we couldn’t wait to be parents. I had a relatively smooth pregnancy and had done ‘all the reading’ and attended lots of prenatal classes, NCT group, a breastfeeding course, baby first aid, etc. I thought I was well prepared for postpartum.

It all started with a traumatic birth, two days of labour with a dramatic rush into theatre for a c section which was narrowly avoided. Instead, my son was delivered by forceps and I had to have an episiotomy (a surgical incision to expedite delivery).

The long labour and pain from the episiotomy meant that I didn’t sleep well for almost a whole week. Thinking that this was ‘normal’ for new parents, we laughed off these initial warning signs. Then, I started to hallucinate, forgetting who I was, or who our son was.

I, and those closest to me, noticed that I was experiencing extreme highs and lows - feeling incredibly happy one moment and in total despair the next. I was very fortunate to have community midwives throughout my pregnancy who knew me well and also noticed that this wasn’t normal for me.

I was very nervous about asking for help - I had tried to hide how I was feeling and was constantly dismissing it as ‘normal baby blues’. It was a very confusing time for me and I remember not feeling like I could trust anyone. I had racing thoughts and felt like I couldn’t switch off so I gave up trying and offered to do all of the nights with our son as I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.

I was admitted to hospital on day three after giving birth as my husband was concerned about my very low mood. However, my more alarming symptoms were missed and they discharged me after helping me to breastfeed.

When I got back home I was very scared and knew that I needed help. On a routine visit on day seven, my community midwife advised me to contact 111 and ask for the mental health crisis team which I did. The mental health team responded very quickly and visited our house within a few hours and, at this point, my mind was constantly racing and I was very worried that I would never feel normal again. I remember finding the visits from the mental health team, perinatal team and social workers very difficult as I was struggling to retain information or sequence days, I felt like I was constantly confused and that there were too many strangers in my home. I wished that they would go away and leave us alone and I was hoping that I could say what they wanted to hear so they would leave and not come back. However, I was talking too quickly and therefore concerning the professionals even more and at one point they mentioned the possibility of sectioning me which led me into a complete panic.

However, I ended up being treated at home with daily appointments from the mental health crisis team and perinatal team. I had never heard of a mother and baby unit and now with hindsight, I believe that this would have been a brilliant option for me.

Although very reluctant to take any medication (I am the kind of person who won’t take paracetamol unless it is absolutely the last resort), I started to take Olanzapine about ten days postpartum. I didn’t get on well with it initially as the dosage was too high for me and I was very dizzy - not a great combination when caring for a new baby! But it definitely helped and allowed me to get the sleep and the break from my racing mind that I desperately needed.

The perinatal team in Suffolk were fantastic. I had regular meetings with my mental health nurse, Emma, and was lucky enough to be assigned a children’s nurse, Clare, who worked hard to ensure that I bonded with my son.

The perinatal team also organised walks and craft activities with other mothers in similar circumstances, which I found very helpful as it made me feel like I wasn’t the only new mum going through this.

Thankfully, once I started to sleep, it didn’t take too long to start feeling more like myself and I was able to start processing what had happened. I held onto the guilt for a very long time, feeling like I had spoilt the first few weeks of fatherhood for my husband and had ruined the excitement of a new baby for our whole family as they were all worrying about me. I think I am still coming to terms with what happened and making peace with it. It was a huge step forward when I felt comfortable to start speaking about what happened and that is what has led me to sharing my story more widely.

I do feel very fortunate in my experience, however, that I did maintain a bond with my son. Although at times I didn’t know who he was, which is heartbreaking, I continued to care for him all the same.

My message to others would be to trust the process - it is incredibly hard when you’re in the midst of postpartum psychosis but know that you can trust your closest family and friends to lead you back to yourself again with the support of the medical professionals. If you are not getting the support you need and are still not feeling right please continue to ask for help. Calling 111 worked for me and it's great that they now have a mental health option. Please keep reaching out if you need help, and know fantastic charities like APP are also here for you, to help signpost you and to support you as you recover.

I am now fundraising for APP by running the London Marathon in April in the hope of raising awareness for this incredible charity, and to share my story to bring hope to those mothers and families currently going through something similar.

To sponsor Kayleigh’s London Marathon fundraiser, visit her fundraising page here.

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