Tag Archives: postpartum psychosis

5 May 2025

APP launches new bereavement support web pages

Action on Postpartum Psychosis, the UK charity dedicated to supporting families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP), has launched new web resources to support individuals bereaved by the illness.

The resources, which are on the APP website, have been co-produced with academic experts, people with lived experience and third sector organisations which work with bereaved families.

The web pages include lived experience stories, information about postpartum psychosis and grief and guidance for supporting family members and children following bereavement. They also contain help with tasks after a bereavement, practical advice about financial support, inquests and investigations, coping with media interest, and ideas for remembrance.

APP’s bereavement support project responds to a long-standing gap in tailored support for bereaved families affected by PP. It has been made possible thanks to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund, which awarded grants to 79 charities across England, including APP, to support life-saving suicide prevention services.

Rich Baish, APP Development Manager, said:

“I lost my wife to postpartum psychosis in 2022, and this content is something I would have really benefited from at the time. The web pages have been designed for partners and families of mums who’ve lost their lives and offer support, advice and practical help as they cope with their loss, as well as resources for families reeling from the loss of a baby. APP’s new resources are so important in making sure bereaved families can find help and support quickly. We’ll keep developing this resource over time, so if you have content to contribute, please do get in touch. I have also found meeting other families who have been bereaved to be cathartic and I would really encourage people in similar positions to get in touch with our specialist peer support team.”

APP can now offer peer support to bereaved families via a small team of trained volunteers, made up of people who have each lost someone in their family, including husbands and partners, mothers, fathers and adults who lost their mothers because of PP when they were children.

Dr Jess Heron, Chief Executive of APP, said:

“We must emphasise that most women recover from PP. Whilst deaths resulting from PP are very rare in the UK, losing a loved one in this way is utterly devastating and isolating. We are delighted that APP now has a small community of bereaved families who can come together and offer support to other families reeling from this tragedy. Our volunteers say that being able to talk to someone in this way at the time of their bereavement would have been so helpful for them.” 

APP is grateful to Suicide&Co, The Loss Foundation and Anna Wardley, Churchill Fellow, for their contributions and guidance during the development of the new web resources. The pages can be accessed here.

If you or anyone you know have been affected by bereavement related to PP you can find out more about APP’s peer support service here. If you would like to join our community or contribute to the resource, please do get in touch. Health professionals working with individuals and families can also signpost people to APP’s support.

2 May 2025

How to get involved with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

We're proud once again to support Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (5 - 11 May) – an important campaign founded by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership.
The theme for this year's campaign is “Your Voice, Your Strength” – something that resonates deeply with us at APP, reinforcing the work we already do to amplify the voices of women and families affected by PP.
During the week you'll see us sharing stories and further highlighting the information and support we have available so no one has to go through this alone.
There are plenty of ways you can get involved, too, so we've outlined some of the activities we'll be taking part in on social media below:
  • Just prior to the main week, on Friday 2nd May, we have Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day (#PPPAwarenessDay). We’re also opening bookings for FREE training for health professionals.
  • On Monday 5th May, the theme is “Conversations That Matter” – so we’ll be having open and honest discussions around maternal mental health, and launching new resources to support families.
  • On Thursday 8th May from 7.30pm, we're hosting an online creativity session that you're welcome to join. It will be a relaxed online session where you can share your creative work (art, poetry, or something else) related to postpartum psychosis, and chat about what it means to you.
  • On Friday 9th May, it’s the ‘Perinatal Positivity Pot’ day where we'll be focusing on stories of hope and recovery and, at 10am, we're excited to be going live on Instagram with Eve from the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership and Shaheda and Sally from the APP team.
  • Plus, on the same day at 12.30, we're thrilled that author and APP ambassador, Laura Dockrill,  is going to be running another online creative writing session for our lived experience community. No experience is required - all you need is something to write with and on, and to book ahead!
Remember, to get involved and be kept up to date with further information:
  • Follow @ActionOnPP on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and BlueSky). Every like, comment and share helps spread awareness.
  • Share your story or your thoughts and tag us.
  • Book ahead for the Thursday evening creativity session and the Friday lunchtime writing session.
  • Join our free APP Network to connect with others and get regular updates, just visit our website and tap ‘Get involved’.
  • Sign up for our Miles for Mums and Babies challenge this May to help raise awareness and support families affected by postpartum psychosis.
1 May 2025

Nurse makes miles matter for maternal mental health

Laura Davies, a Mental Health Nurse at Betsi Cadwaladr’s Perinatal Mental Health Service, is running almost 70 miles from Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Maternity Unit to the site of the new specialist mental health Mother and Baby Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital to raise money for APP and Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity’s Perinatal Mental Health fund.

In Winter 2025 the all-new Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit will be opened at the Countess of Chester Hospital following a unique collaboration between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, NHS England and NHS Wales.

For the past few months, Laura has been training hard for her incredible challenge whilst raising almost £1,400 for her chosen charities.

Talking about her challenge, Laura said: “We know that admission to a mental health unit can be a scary and stressful time for many of our families and we want to be able to offer additional support that goes over and above what the NHS can fund to anyone who may need it during this time.

“This is why during the first week of May, to coincide with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, I have decided to embark on this big challenge in order to raise funds for our service and Action on Postpartum Psychosis.”

Once open, Seren Lodge will become a specialist eight bedded mental health unit to support perinatal mothers, babies and their families from across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside.

The unit will provide a safe and therapeutic space for women to receive care and treatment and will enable mothers to remain with their babies whilst they recover, whilst also supporting partners and families during this time.

A spokesperson for Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity said: “Laura is taking on an incredible challenge by running almost 70 miles from Ysbyty Gwynedd to the Countess of Chester Hospital to raise funds for Perinatal Mental Health at Betsi Cadwaladr, and also to raise awareness for maternal mental health as we enter Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. The money Laura raises will go towards funding over and above support for women and their families during challenging times. Good luck, Laura!”

As the UK’s national charity dedicated to supporting women and families affected by postpartum psychosis – for which admission to a Mother and Baby Unit, like Seren Lodge, is paramount - APP is delighted to be included in this impressive fundraising challenge.

Felicity Lambert, National Fundraising Coordinator, APP, said: “We’re wishing Laura the best of luck for her incredible ultra marathon this weekend. We’re all in awe of her taking on this massive challenge to raise funds and awareness of APP and for Seren Lodge Mother and Baby Unit. The funds she raises for APP will help us support even more women and families affected by postpartum psychosis – a severe but highly treatable maternal mental illness. Thank you, Laura!”

To support Laura’s fundraising challenge, you can donate to both Awyr Las: The North Wales NHS Charity and APP here: Team fundraising for Awyr Las and APP is fundraising for APP

29 April 2025

Iqra's story - I kept pushing myself like I had a superpower

When a mental health professional told me that I was really poorly - but that I could be treated - I stopped running away from it. I finally knew that there was something wrong with me, that it wasn’t my fault and, with the right help I could get better. It was the most reassuring thing anyone had said to me since I gave birth to my twins.

It was 2023 when I became unwell with postpartum psychosis (PP). I didn’t actually realise I was unwell at the time, but now I can reflect on it, I can pinpoint when it all started. And I believe I started to become unwell almost straight after giving birth.

I already had three children when I was pregnant with twins. My husband and I were both really excited. We’d recently moved house and had it renovated, and I was due a c-section, so everything felt a bit more planned. But we certainly didn’t plan for me becoming so unwell. In fact, neither me nor my husband had ever heard of PP before it affected us.

After giving birth, I didn’t really feel a connection to my new babies. My husband was obviously busy trying to look after our other three children, one of who has special needs, and I just felt a bit overwhelmed. I was struggling to feed the twins and I was really low on iron, which meant I found it hard to stay awake and I kept losing consciousness.

I just couldn’t admit that I needed help and I needed to slow down.

After having a blood transfusion I was able to go home to be with my family. I was excited to be back at home but I found it really difficult. I’d be up in the night with my newborns, and my husband would be up in the night with our son who is autistic. The workload of running a home and looking after five children just became too much – but every day I kept telling myself that I was fine – I could handle it. I just couldn’t admit that I needed help and I needed to slow down.

As exhaustion started to get the better of me, I started to believe some strange and supernatural ideas. The house we live in is my husband’s late grandad’s, and I started to believe that his spirit was around me and that I could hear his voice. I didn’t feel scared at first – in fact I felt quite positive about the experience. But as time went on, I started becoming agitated as well, snapping at everyone and yet I still refused to admit that I was struggling and needed help.

I set myself really high standards, trying to breastfeed both my twins and trying not to give them dummies which was really tough. Then, when they were eight weeks old, I broke down, feeling defeated. I gave them dummies and felt really disappointed in myself.

I was losing control of my own mind.

From that point on I wasn’t sleeping at night, even when the twins were asleep and I had that time and space to myself. I remember that I would look at their faces and feel scared. My mind was playing tricks on me and, when I looked at them, their faces looked disfigured. I was losing control of my own mind.

I definitely still had some kind of grasp on reality, however, because I knew that if I said out loud what I believed and what I was thinking people would assume I was crazy. So I kept everything to myself.

My delusions and hallucinations started becoming more intense at this point. I created some kind of male figure in my mind who was telling me that I wasn’t attractive and that my hands and my hair were awful. I became obsessed with these thoughts, spending all night brushing my hair and washing my hands over and over. Then the delusion started to spiral out of control, telling me to take my own life, and that my family would be better off without me.

As a Muslim woman in the Asian community, I’d heard people talking about black magic and I started wondering if somebody had performed black magic on me. I had no understanding of maternal mental health problems, and I’d certainly never heard of PP. I was so burnt out and exhausted by this point that I did eventually take an overdose to try to end it all.

My husband found me after I fainted and called an ambulance. The paramedics took me to hospital, but I was so out of it I kept trying to run away, to run back home. Eventually, someone from the mental health team came to speak to me and that was the big turning point for me.

That’s when they told me I was unwell, that I needed help, and that I could get better. Because I had tried to take my own life, I was admitted to an MBU (Mother and Baby Unit) but at this point nobody knew about my hallucinations and delusions as I kept it all to myself – so nobody knew I had PP.

After admitting to the hallucinations and delusions and getting the antipsychotic medication the psychosis started to recede really quickly.

As soon as I was admitted I was given sleeping pills and they worked wonders. However, they certainly didn’t cure me and it wasn’t until I finally admitted to the staff about my psychotic symptoms that I was given the right medication to get me on the road to recovery.

Still, it took a while to get fully better. I took so many medications, at one point I was taking 14 pills every day! My anxiety was sky high and I felt really overwhelmed and panicky and was unable to control the amount of oxygen I needed so I kept passing out.

But after admitting to the hallucinations and delusions and getting the antipsychotic medication the psychosis started to recede really quickly.

You hold back because you think your children will be taken away or you’ll be locked up forever, but for me, being honest was the turning point. Letting the health professionals in on what was really going on was the only way to get me well.

Now I’m recovered I want to share my story because I know how reassuring it is to meet others who have been through what you have. Motherhood is really hard anyway, but adding maternal mental illness into the mix makes things incredibly difficult. One thing I have learnt, however, is that your mind is really important and, if it needs rest, you need to let it rest. Plus, if you are becoming mentally unwell, the only real way out is by being honest about it and asking for help.

Before I was able to open up, I didn’t really socialise in the MBU, where I would stay for three months in total. But when I started speaking to the other mums in there and realising I wasn’t alone and I certainly wasn’t crazy, I started to feel so much better – speaking to others definitely helped me in my recovery. Now, I hope I can play a part in helping other women and families too.

 

 

27 April 2025

Run for APP in the 2026 London Marathon!

We're delighted to announce that APP has secured 12 places in the 2026 TCS London Marathon.

The TCS London Marathon is the world's most popular marathon, and the single biggest fundraising event on the planet.  Taking place next year on 26th April, we're so excited APP is able to give you the chance to be part of it.

In the public ballot, more than 800,000 people apply each year for just 50,000 available places. We get many requests to run for APP, so we know interest will be high.  Because of this, we're implementing an application procedure to ensure our limited places are allocated fairly, and that we have a team made up of people who are passionate about APP.

If you're interested, you can access the application form here. 

Applications are open until 25th May and we'll let you know by 13th June if you have been successful.

There is a £100 registration fee to pay to secure your place, then we're asking our London Marathon runners to raise a minimum of £2,000 each. As with all our events, our team will be here to support you with your training and fundraising.

All APP runners will receive an APP running top, a marathon training guide produced by fitness experts Make Bold Choices, fundraising inspiration and supplies, and of course the all important APP medal and finishers goody bag!  We'll also be there on the big day to cheer you on and celebrate with you at the finish line.

Whether you're a seasoned marathon runner, or you want a truly memorable experience for your first ever major event - if the London Marathon has always been on your wish list, now's your chance to give it a go.

We have places secured in the London Marathon each year until 2029, so even if you aren’t successful this time, or if maybe you need a bit longer to prepare - there will be a chance to apply for an APP place again the following year.

24 April 2025

Our biggest fundraising weekend!

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

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

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

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

London Marathon 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Add your support for Satpal here.

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

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

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

Good luck Sarah! Support Sarah here.

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

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

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

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

She tells us why she chose to represent APP this year: 'My close family friend Sally Wilson, (APP's National Training Co-ordinator) suffered from this crippling condition and raising awareness of the condition is very important as spotting early signs can save lives. 
I hope to raise some money for this very important charity to help in the wonderful work that they do. 
When the going gets tough around the 19 mile mark Sally will be in my heart to spur me on to the finish!'
Kate is fundraising through organising events including a coffee morning next month. Thank you Kate - you're an inspiration! Good luck!

Manchester Marathon

Ellie

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

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

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

Antwerp 10 Mile

A family all wearing APP t-shirts standing in a sunny garden

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

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

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

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

Glasgow Kiltwalk

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.