Tag Archives: postpartum psychosis

4 October 2024

WITCHES, a new documentary by Elizabeth Sankey exploring perinatal mental illness

WITCHES, a powerful new documentary film by Elizabeth Sankey, examines the relationship between cinematic portrayals of witches and how we view women, motherhood, and mental health. It shows historical footage across film, television, and culture alongside personal stories.

We’re delighted that members of our community  were interviewed for the project and have their postpartum psychosis stories featured in the film, including APP trustee Catherine Cho and Dr Krystal Wilkinson. Documentary contributors also include Sophia Di Martino, David Emson, Dr. Trudi Seneviratne, Professor Marion Gibson and Shema Tariq.

Catherine Cho says: “I was asked to participate in the film as an interviewee, and I remember being struck by Elizabeth’s passion and dedication to bringing this project to life. Watching the film, I was struck by the parallels in history. Some of the most moving elements in the documentary are listening to the historical testimony of women who were found to be guilty of being a ‘witch’ or a vessel to the devil and realising that their experiences are what we would now know to be mental illness.

“The documentary weaves together Elizabeth’s perspective, her journey from being sectioned to trying to make sense of her experience, her love of cinema, and the stories of others with shared experiences of postpartum mental illness.

“There is a moment towards the end of the documentary where Elizabeth walks hand in hand with her son, and it brought me to tears, that in walking through darkness, through horrors, through a haunted place, we can emerge.

“It is not only a beautiful film, it is an important one, a shared testimony.”

Screenings take place over the next few months in London and Manchester. For further details and updates, check your local cinema listings.

LONDON

Tuesday 15 October 2024 20:30 BFI Southbank

Thursday 17 October 2024 18:00 Prince Charles Cinema

Sunday 20 October 2024 20:45 BFI Southbank

Book tickets here: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=witches-lff24&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id= 

MANCHESTER

Friday 1 November 18:00 at Home Manchester

This includes a Q&A with writer-director Elizabeth Sankey, chaired by David Cox, Channel Editor at Film4 and co-curator of FilmFear.

Book tickets here: 

https://homemcr.org/film/witches/?utm_source=manchestertheatres 

💜 A note on the film content for our lived experience community:
Some of our team and volunteers have viewed the film and shared that certain scenes may be challenging or upsetting, depending on where you are in your postpartum psychosis journey. Please take care and decide whether it's the right time for you to watch.

If you'd like to find out more about the themes before watching WITCHES, please get in touch with us:

📧 Email: app@app-network.org

2 October 2024

Sam & Adam share their story

Adam wearing his purple APP t-shirtThis Sunday, dad of two Adam is taking on an epic challenge - the Suffolk Whole Hog muddy obstacle course - made up of 30 obstacles round a very muddy five mile course.

Adam has chosen to do this to raise funds for and awareness of APP because his wife Sam was diagnosed with PP after the birth of their first son back in 2017.

Here, Sam shares her experience of her illness in her own words:

'I quickly became severely unwell, experiencing hallucinations, paranoia and terrifying intrusive thoughts. Just 15 days after giving birth I was sectioned under the mental health act and alongside my newborn I was placed in a Mother and Baby Unit 65 miles away from our home.  During this time I was looked after by some amazing people and now have a rainbow tattoo on my ankle in honour of the people that saved me.

At the MBU I finally felt safe. Although still so unwell I was slowly able to recover with the help of some wonderful people who I will never forget.

Sam and her sonI have since gone on to have our second son in 2020, thankfully with no repercussions. To anyone who is experiencing PP please believe you will get there. You may be a different version of yourself from before but that's OK. Put your trust in those that are helping you get better and allow yourself time. It is a traumatic experience that will never leave you but it doesn't have to define you.'

Thank you Sam for sharing your story with us, and thank you Adam for taking on the Whole Hog challenge for APP.  We're looking forward to seeing the photos!

If you'd like to support Adam's fundraising, you can visit his JustGiving page here.

17 September 2024

Chris kicks off a new season of awareness raising

Chris and his dad inside the stadiumAPP super supporter Chris is back for another season of raising awareness of APP through attending football matches across the UK.

Since 2023, Chris has been going to football matches at grounds around and closest to the 22 Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in the UK. He has a specially made purple APP football shirt that he wears for every match and does his best to get a mention in the matchday programme each time.

This season he's kicked off with a match at Crystal Palace FC. Chris reports back for us here:

'Match #6 complete! Football season is officially back! 
On Saturday 14th September 2024 I attended my 6th match of my football awareness tour with my dad Gary!  We went to see Crystal Palace draw 2-2 at home against Leicester at Selhurst Park. 
After a disappointing first half, The Eagles recovered from two nil down to secure a draw. The exciting second half and passionate home crowd, celebrating 100 years at Selhurst Park, made for a brilliant experience! 
I have to say a special thank you to my fellow PP dad who helped get us these tickets. I am so so grateful! This was a surprise fixture at this stage of my awareness tour, and a day neither my dad or I will forget. 
Despite very high demand I was able to get an entry about my challenge, postpartum psychosis and the MBUs in the match day programme!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to visit the local South London and Maudsley MBU in person on this occasion. But I did manage to speak to the Ward Manager and another member of staff before my trip, to thank them for all the amazing work they do.'

UPDATE 26th October 2024

Chris's latest trip was to Bolton last weekend, another successful day - he's reported back on it for us here:

Chris in his purple APP football top outside Bolton Wanderers Stadium'Match #7 complete!

 

Yesterday, Saturday 26th October 2024, I attended my 7th match of my football awareness tour with my good friend Ross.  We went to see Bolton beat Peterborough 1-0 at home thanks to a dramatic stoppage time winner.

 

I have to be honest and say we were hoping for a goal fest given the two clubs form, but it was certainly an entertaining finish!

 

Bolton put an amazing entry in their matchday programme about my challenge, postpartum psychosis and the MBUs. It was lovely!

 

Technically I have already attended a football match close to the Chorley Ribblemere MBU, seeing Accrington Stanley last October (2023), and also visiting the MBU in person this March (2024).

 

But Bolton is less than 10 miles away from the MBU. And I know Ross has been eagerly waiting to join in on this tour and help me in raising awareness for this cause. So it was a great day out!

 

Before the game we were lucky enough to meet up with Kieran Anders from Dad Matters.  It was great to be able to meet Kieran in person, fresh with a new trim having just chopped off his hair for The Little Princess Trust and Home-Start HOST!

 

In a rare turn of events for this awareness tour, the home team won! So Kieran said I am welcome to come back again!'

UPDATE 12th November 2024

Next stop on Chris's tour took him to Derby:

Chris standing pitchside with members of the Derby team.'On Saturday 9th November 2024 I attended my 8th match of my football awareness tour with my good friend Ed!

We went to see Derby draw 1-1 against Plymouth Argyle at home at Pride Park.

The highlights of the game had to be the opening goal, a bicycle kick from Derby, and an outrageous Derby strike from the halfway line that the Plymouth goalie just clawed away.

On this occasion I wasn't able to get an entry in the matchday programme...it appears Derby don't do public notifications in their programmes... But I do have to say a massive thank you to the club! They were really interested in our experience and my awareness tour, and arranged for us to have pitch side photographs with five Derby players before the match.

I knew that we were going to have pre-match photographs, but I didn't know that we would be walking down the tunnel and having the photographs with the players! So, this was another incredible and unexpected experience on this journey!

The Pride Park stadium is less than 5 miles from the Beeches MBU. And we actually got to visit this MBU on this trip. It was really nice to be able to meet the wonderful Jo and Becky and other members of staff at the Beeches MBU on this trip, to talk about our experience and the important work they do and to see how another MBU differs.  And it is really promising to hear that there is work being done for, and more consideration being given to, our experiences as partners as well.'

UPDATE 8th January 2025

For his first match of the new year, Chris headed to Watford on the 4th January.

Chris and his dad standing outside Vicarage Road Stadium

'I have been to my 9th match of my tour today with my dad Gary. We went to see Watford lose 2-1 against promotion chasing Sheffield United at home at Vicarage Road. 
The match marked the eighth anniversary of club legend Graham Taylor's passing with the 'Graham Taylor Matchday'.
I have to say this was the coldest match I have been to on this challenge so far! It was very cold! 
And I really do seem to be a curse to the home teams!
Watford put a really nice entry in their matchday programme about my challenge, Postpartum Psychosis and the MBUs. They even included my Instagram account in the entry to help spread awareness.
I did call the local Hertfordshire Thumbswood MBU before my trip, but unfortunately didn't get to visit in person on this occasion. '
 You can follow Chris's awareness raising adventures via his Instagram here.

If you're a dad or co-parent that would like to meet and talk with others whose partners have experienced PP, join our virtual Dads and Co-parents peer support social / cafe group - 8-9pm, every 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Zoom joining link: bit.ly/PARTNERMEET. Or, email Simon: simon@app-network.org

7 September 2024

APP's 2025 Great North Run Team

It's the one of the biggest and most well know half marathons in the world - the Great North Run - and we're so excited to have FIVE runners taking part for APP this year:

Tim in his purple APP top at his local York Parkrun  Tim

Tim is running for APP because of the work we do campaigning for more Mother & Baby Units (MBU).

Tim's family have first hand experience of not being able to access a local MBU. When his wife was diagnosed with PP after the birth of their second child, there was no bed available at their nearest MBU, meaning she had to be treated some way from their family home.
Tim says 'Nine 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. 

Add your support for Tim here.
 

 
mikyla running wearing her APP top Mikyla 

Mikyla is taking on her first half marathon and we couldn't be more grateful that she has chosen to do this for APP.

She says: 'I am dedicating my first ever half-marathon to new mums and APP as my charity. I want to show solidarity to all new mums and their families, and to help bring support to the new mums who most need it.'

Support Mikyla here.
Rob with his partner and baby  Rob

Rob has chosen to take on the Great North Run for APP this year as 'it is a cause close to my heart and I wanted to support the great work that APP does.' 
Thank you Rob and good luck!

Add your support for Rob here.
Philippa and Owen in their APP t-shirts  Philippa & Owen

Running together and inspired to do so to support brother in law Rob and his family, Philippa and Owen have been training hard and are excited to take on the Great North Run for the first time!

Add your support for Philippa and Owen here.

A huge thank you to all of our runners, and to everyone who has supported them with their training, and through donations.

Look out for them in their purple APP tops on the TV coverage and do give them an extra cheer if you're going to be there in person this weekend.

13 August 2024

Leanne’s story: Reading other people’s recovery stories has allowed me to process what happened to me

I have always been a worrier, but I felt pregnancy was a particularly long and very anxious time in my life. I only really began to relax towards the end and then suddenly here she was!

She was actually ten days overdue when we toddled to hospital for induction in May 2022. Labour was long, and it ended in a forceps delivery which was difficult.

Post delivery, though, I began perking up. I was in theatre, and, because we love Grey's Anatomy, it was kind of exciting to be there. Plus, I finally got some pain relief. But looking back, it's hard to determine if those feelings were actually the start of my symptoms of postpartum psychosis (PP).

Immediately after the birth, my husband and I burst into tears of happiness. I was on cloud nine, and for a fair stretch of time I rarely came back down. Just over a week after giving birth, I was diagnosed with PP and our world stopped turning.

We had been discharged two days after the birth and were at home for six days. Whilst at home I was struggling to breastfeed and found being a new mum challenging. However, I was in awe of our newborn and could not process the sheer amount of joy and stimulation she had brought to our lives. The first memories of her meeting friends and family were magical and I didn't want to miss a thing. So I didn't. Within the first six days I literally only slept a handful of hours which really took its toll. It's difficult to know if the lack of sleep triggered PP or if the lack of sleep was a symptom of PP. I'm sure this must be a common conundrum amongst other survivors.

It started off gradually but things became rapidly worse.

My behaviour became really out of character, and my husband described me as a different person. I had the energy of a Duracell bunny, talking erratically and making less and less sense as things progressed. My moods were very up and down but, because we were first time parents and had been told about baby blues and hormones, it took us a week to call for help as we thought it must be normal. But I progressively got worse and fluctuated between euphoric highs and tearful lows. I began gathering items for a tool kit in a strange manner which concerned everyone.

When we eventually called NHS 24 they recommended that I should go straight to A&E. From there, I was admitted to the Mother & Baby Unit (MBU) where I stayed with my daughter for the next five weeks, at first voluntarily and then under section.

After entering hospital I declined even further and it was clear that I was extremely unwell. Despite mainly being on a high and euphoric, I was also confused and angry at the situation and responded slowly to medication, leading to the decision to receive Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which was a turning point in my recovery. I began to improve almost immediately - within just two sessions. The effects allowed me to slow down and rest and in turn begin to process things at a more suitable speed.

After both myself and my daughter tested positive for Covid the decision was taken that we would best recover at home. We were close to beginning the transition to home visits and I received great support from the MBU and the Acute Care and Support Team. At the time I was desperate to get home and begin our life as a family of three, however this was just the beginning in accepting what had happened.

I have since struggled a lot with the stigma of having mental health issues which is why I became so interested in raising awareness around the topic and sharing my story. When I was ill I became obsessed with music and the playlist I had prepared for labour. Sadly, we were never able to use it during the birth but, because I have always loved music, I have since found it therapeutic to listen to during my recovery. I have also enjoyed reading memoirs written by survivors as well as other books focusing on perinatal mental health. Reading different recovery stories has been the most helpful thing to process what happened to me in peace and feel like my story and feelings are valid. Despite the challenging symptoms and experiences that I would not wish on anyone, reading that I was not alone and that others had experienced similar things was the biggest help in terms of finding acceptance.

On the ward I regularly put my checkered Vans on (I thought of them as my ‘getaway shoes’) and tried to make a break for it, but in the time that has passed since leaving hospital there have been many days when I would be grateful to go back to the MBU for a break from my head. I wish it was known that if you require admission and some help at this vulnerable time, that its not something to fear - the care and support on an MBU is incredible, in my experience. I will be eternally grateful to the nurses and psychiatric team who looked after my tiny bundle and me - and also supported my husband and immediate family through a critical period. Having no diagnosed history of mental health issues in the past, my experience came as a big shock for us all as we managed new expectations and grieved the newborn period we had hoped for.

I had no idea such vital and important work was going on every day in a hospital, a few minutes away.

Upon my discharge from the MBU, I received leaflets from the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP). I have since benefited from their online forum, informative website, one to one support, cafe zoom groups and the continual updates on fundraising and positive recovery stories. Speaking to others who have also experienced PP has been really helpful to me, finding a community and others who can relate to my story makes me feel less alone.

We are now thrilled to be raising money for this incredible charity by walking in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday 15th September. The walk is a unique way to raise funds for a charity you care about.

And hopefully, our now two-year-old little red head will meet us at the finish line.

To find out more about Leanne’s Kiltwalk fundraiser and to donate, click here.

12 August 2024

Matt's on a Mission for APP!

This year, Matt, a dad of two from Fleetwood in Lancashire, has been on a mission to get fit at the same time as raising funds and awareness for APP. 

He set himself the challenge of taking on a half marathon AND a triathlon before the end of September, and has been building up to these with lots of running, swimming and cycling throughout the year.  Here Matt explains what he's doing and why he decided to take on this epic challenge:

'At the beginning of the year, I started a health and fitness journey to help myself and my wellbeing.  I am now really enjoying this with many challenges already complete and more to come:

  • 4 x 10k runs complete
  • A half marathon coming up on 25th August (my first ever)
  • A sprint triathlon made up of 400m swim, 20km bike and a 5K run (my first ever) on 22nd September
  • I am now toying with the idea of a marathon in 2025!!!

I thought that this would also be an ideal opportunity to help raise some funds and awareness for a charity.  After doing some research it was a no brainer!  APP was the charity I chose with it being a charity that me and my family can relate to having being personally affected by this illness.

Watching my then partner, now wife, go through postpartum psychosis was really tough. What was supposed to be a happy and exciting time in our lives adding a second child to our already perfect family, turned out a very difficult and testing period for my wife (especially) and I.

When this illness hit, I was not aware what it was, or how this was caused and we had to contact our local midwife team, who then explained in what my wife was experiencing and how it can be helped/treated. We were then referred to our local mental health crisis team who started to diagnose and treat my wife.

This was a long process for us all but the support for my wife at this time was vital. Taking extended time periods off work and changing our short-term living arrangements amongst other changes really helped with the recovery.

It also really helped that we have a very strong and supportive family network around us.

Any funds and awareness I can raise is a massive help – even if I tell just one person about this illness, I feel like this could make a big difference.

I have had a dedicated race top made where local businesses got involved, buying a ‘sponsor’ space for a fee that went straight to my donations page. I am trying everything to get the donations in and counting on the generosity of my community to help.'

You can follow Matt's journey via his instagram page @mattymeck_fitnessjourney, and you can add your support for his mission here.

Matt - you are an inspiration! We can't wait to hear how your first ever half marathon and triathlon go - thank you so much for sharing your journey with us and for your support for APP.

1 August 2024

Sarah's ToughMudder for APP

APP  supporter Sarah Pujol is taking on the gruelling Tough Mudder South West obstacle course to help raise funds for APP and awareness of postpartum psychosis (PP).

Sarah has chosen to take on this challenge to mark three years to the day that she became unwell with PP after the birth of her daughter.

She wants to celebrate how far she's come and use her recovery journey to inspire and make a difference.

Sarah says: 'Tough Mudder, with its gruelling physical and mental challenges, serves as a symbolic representation of my belief that today, there's nothing I cannot overcome. The obstacles on the course reflect the hurdles life throws at us, and as I navigate mud pits and conquer towering walls, I'll be proving to myself and others that, after facing the darkest moments of my life, resilience and inner strength can conquer all.'

She's chosen to support APP through this event because 'APP introduced me to a community of genuine and caring people who helped me navigate the loneliness and complexities of this illness, and played a huge part in my recovery.'

Sarah is now a volunteer peer supporter for APP herself, supporting women and families who have also been affected by PP.

She will be providing regular updates on her training and her progress on the day of her challenge via her instagram page, plus you can read more and add your support for this challenge here.

Thank you Sarah and good luck!

30 July 2024

Kayleigh’s story: I was so unwell I was completely catatonic and unresponsive. But now I feel like we have the perfect family

When I suffered with postpartum psychosis after having my first daughter Daisy in 2014, me and my family had never heard of this illness. I had never suffered from any mental illness in the past but I was lucky that my family and my midwife knew that something wasn't quite right and I got the help I needed very quickly.

My labour with Daisy was long, painful and complicated which ended in me having an emergency c section. When she finally arrived I was so grateful she was here safe and healthy. I was totally in love with her, it felt like I was in a little bubble. The baby who we had waited so long for was here and life was perfect.

A picture of the author, Kayleigh, holding her newborn baby daughter, Daisy who is wearing a white and red sleep suit and red and black hat.
Kayleigh holding her newborn daughter Daisy

When it was time for us to leave the hospital I suddenly felt a huge wave of fear.

This tiny little baby was my responsibility to keep safe. What if I couldn't do it? What if I forgot something? How could I keep her safe from everything? I remember getting her ready to leave the hospital panicking if I had enough layers of clothes on her, would she be warm enough or would she be too hot, had I put her in the car seat right, was her head supported enough....

When we got home things started to get worse. I couldn't sleep at night thinking about all the things I needed to do and worrying I wouldn't have time to do it. I would have bursts of energy feeling like I was able to do everything at once then I would have times when I couldn't even feed Daisy feeling like I would do it wrong. I started making lists in case I forgot to do things like feed her and change her. I was frightened to bath her in case I did it wrong.

I became very suspicious of my midwife and health visitor thinking that they were coming to take my baby away from me and that they had been planning this my whole pregnancy thinking I was a bad mam. When watching telly I thought I was getting messages warning me that bad things were going to happen, that our family dog would attack the baby.

On advice from my midwife I was taken back to the maternity ward where things got frighteningly worse. I suddenly lost sight of reality and thought I had died during childbirth and that I was going to hell for something bad I had done. I remember screaming out to my husband to help me as I didn't know what to do. I was assessed by the mental health crisis team and the decision was made to section me as by this time I wasn't communicating. I had gone into a catatonic state and I couldn't move my body. I remember being put into a wheelchair and I didn't know where I was going. I felt like I was in a dream and that I needed to fall or jump to wake myself up.

A bed became available for me and Daisy at St George's Mother and Baby Unit in Morpeth so I was transferred there by ambulance. I could see my family around me but they didn't seem like the people I knew and loved - they felt like intruders or actors. I was very suspicious of them thinking they were going to hurt me.

A photo of the author, Kayleigh, holding her baby girl and brushing her hair while sitting on a bed in the Mother and Baby Unit with a pink blanket
Kayleigh and daughter Daisy in the MBU

When I arrived at the Mother and Baby Unit I thought I was being taken to hell and that I would be locked in a dark room forever and that horrible and unimaginable things were going to happen to me. I was still catatonic so in my mind I was dead and that's why I couldn't move or speak. I was given medication to help me get out of the psychosis but I was still unresponsive so I was then taken to another hospital for a brain scan to see if there was anything else going on. I remember being in the ambulance but I felt like it was all fake like they were trying to trick me into thinking it was all real. At this point I still wasn't aware of what was happening to me and I still hadn't spoken for hours. I remember being put into the machine for the brain scan and thinking I was going to be abducted by aliens. I jumped up and this was the first time I had spoken or moved in hours. The catatonia was over but my thoughts were still spiralling out of control.

I was taken back to the Mother and Baby Unit and as I walked down the corridor I could see all my family waiting for me. I could see white doors at the end of the corridor, which were actually fire exit doors, but in my mind they were the doors to heaven and I was walking there to say my goodbyes to my family.

I don’t remember much after that but the medication must have been taking effect as it helped me to sleep for the first time in days.  When I finally woke, I realised I wasn't actually dead and everyone in my family was ok, my baby was ok. I felt like I had won the lottery. The feeling was unreal and I explained to my family what I had felt and thought. It was as if all the craziness had lifted from my mind and I was me again. I was so happy to be alive.

Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last long and I was hit with a wave of crippling depression which consumed my mind. I felt like I had lost my bond with Daisy and I didn't really want to see any of my family apart from my husband Dave.

I thought I would never get better and was going to spend the rest of my life in hospital.

As the days and weeks passed, I was allowed to try an overnight home visit, thinking back at the time I don't feel I was ready for this. The Mother and Baby Unit had now become my safe place. I knew I could look after Daisy there as I had the help of the nurses. But at home it was all on me and I didn't think I could do it. I was right, as soon as I got home the rooms seemed smaller, the fear, the anxiety, the depression it all came flooding back. Then I hit rock bottom, I felt like I didn't want to be here anymore, I wanted to just curl up in a ball on the floor and die. I needed a way out of this. I couldn't see myself getting any better. I couldn't live like this. I thought Dave, Daisy and my family would all be better off without me. I thought of ways to end my life. This was the lowest I had ever felt.

I had relapsed and couldn't make it through the night at home. I broke down and the only option my family had was to take me back to the Mother and Baby Unit.

Over the next few weeks I was helped by the nursing staff and psychologists to put things in place so that I could return home and I did, this time only for a few hours but it was lovely, totally different from my last home visit. I felt like I was where I should be at home with my beautiful little family.

Home visits became more regular and I was now spending a week at home. Everything was starting to click into place and it felt amazing. I finally believed I could be the mam that I had always wanted to be. I was discharged from the Mother and Baby Unit after six weeks and could finally start enjoying normal life again as a family. I was to continue with my medication for 12 months and be supported by a community mental health nurse who would visit me at home. I continued to recover from the illness but did relapse a year later, again out of the blue, but this time I could be supported at home and did not need to be admitted.

In 2017 we decided that we would try for another baby. We knew the risks and that there was a 50/50 chance that I would become poorly again but I was determined to put things in place this time to ensure it didn't happen. I was placed under a consultant who I would see regularly and I stopped my medication. We were lucky enough to fall pregnant quite quickly and plans were put in place for me to try to prevent another episode of postpartum psychosis. I was given the option to return to my medication soon after having the baby. I would also stay on the maternity ward for five days after the birth so I could be monitored, and a bed was even held for me at the same Mother and Baby Unit in case I needed it.

Author Kayleigh in a close up photo with her family of four all smiling at the camera with a blue sky background. Left to right Jasmine, Daisy, Kayleigh and husband Dave
Kayleigh’s family: Left to right Jasmine, Daisy, Kayleigh and husband Dave

 

On 1st August 2018 after the most perfect labour our second daughter Jasmine was born and our little family was now complete. I agreed to stay on the maternity ward for five days after birth as that's when my psychosis happened with Daisy and I was advised if it was to happen again it would be the same time frame. Everything was perfect. I didn't have any of the anxiety or depression that I had experienced previously and we could go home and enjoy life as a family of four.

Eight lovely months passed and we were the perfect family. Then one day the hallucinations came back and I started to see and hear things that weren't there. Having felt like this previously I told my husband Dave that I thought my psychosis was happening again. My family contacted the crisis team and by the time they came to assess me I was catatonic again. I was sectioned and admitted for the second time to the same Mother and Baby Unit.  I have been told by my family that this psychosis was way worse than the first and I'm thankful that I actually don't remember a lot of it. I think my mind somehow blocked all the bad stuff out. It took longer for the medication to work this time and after a while my family were concerned that I didn't seem to be getting any better.

It was agreed by my family that I would have electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which is a treatment that involves sending an electric current through your brain. This causes a brief surge of electrical activity within your brain and helps to relieve severe symptoms of mental health problems. The treatment seemed to work, and I was again allowed home visits starting off with a few hours, then progressing to an overnight stay. Eventually, I was going home for a full week’s home leave.

As with my previous episode of psychosis, I was discharged from the Mother and Baby Unit six weeks after being sectioned. To this day I continue with my medication as I know this is a huge preventative measure to stop me having psychosis in the future.

Author Kayleigh on the right taking a selfie of her with her husband Dave, wearing a purple APP t-shirt during their fundraising walk.
Dave and Kayleigh on their fundraising walk from Sunderland to the Morpeth MBU

It’s now been over five years since my last psychosis and for the first time I’ve felt ready to share my story and raise awareness of this heartbreaking illness. Me and my husband Dave completed a 27 mile charity walk in May for which we walked from our house in Sunderland to St George’s MBU in Morpeth to raise funds for Action on Postpartum Psychosis.  We left our home at 5:40am and arrived at St George’s at 4:10pm, 27 miles and 10 and a half hours later, greeted at the end by our lovely daughters Daisy and Jasmine which was a very special moment.

We have the perfect family with our two beautiful daughters and because of what we have been through together it makes me even more grateful for what we have. The whole experience has definitely brought us closer together.

18 June 2024

Cee Jae's 12 hour gameathon for APP

APP supporter Cee Jae has been raising awareness and funds for APP via live streaming their xbox games to Twitch for a while, but now Cee Jae has decided to step up their efforts even further, and on 30th June they will be holding an epic one off, 12 hour non stop streaming event, during which they will also share snippets of their journey through postpartum psychosis, alongside their gaming community gang.

Cee Jae is passionate about raising awareness of PP and of APP and says: 'I received some very meaningful support from APP on recovering from postnatal psychosis myself back a few years ago, so this cause is crucial to me.'

Cee Jae has shared some photos with us, saying 'These are from the time when me and Henri were in the MBU and when he came to visit me with his grandmother when I was in acute wards during my time through PP.

 

The photo of me and him all grown up (main photo above) is us today, five years later, still healing from the memories myself and still making more beautiful memories with my little dude.

 

It really is an understatement when I say that I am passionate about spreading awareness. My experience fuels my desire to fundraise for your organisation.'

 
You can add your support for Cee Jae via JustGiving here.

Follow Cee Jae on their Twitch channel (username mush_roomgoblin)

They are promoting their fundraiser, and more details about their recovery from APP in their discord server too.
30th June also just happens to be Cee Jae's birthday - what a great way to celebrate! We're so grateful to you for choosing to spend your birthday doing this for APP!
13 June 2024

BBC Radio 4 Appeal Round Up

Thank you to everyone who supported APP’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal which was broadcast on 23rd March 2024. 

It provided us with an incredible opportunity to reach new audiences, raise awareness of postpartum psychosis as well as APP, and raise vital funds to support our work.

The broadcast is still available to listen to here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xm04

The appeal aimed to raise funds and awareness, and reach people who had not heard of APP before.

Our ambassador, author Laura Dockrill presented the appeal, which focused on the importance of providing peer support.  As part of the three minute broadcast, Laura shared some of her own PP story, and made a suggested donation ask of £34 which could enable APP to reach out to and support a new mum affected by PP.

All donations made to the appeal were matched by a generous donor.

Alongside the appeal we also successfully applied for an electronic billboard campaign with JC Decaux - this was live for four weeks during March 2024, with a focus on the BBC appeal for one week.

 

The appeal raised (with Gift Aid and match funding) £18,977.  The average donation received was £43.

The impact of the appeal goes far beyond the donations though - the awareness raised will have even longer term effects for APP and the families we support:

  • Increased profile for APP - only 49 charities are chosen for BBC Radio 4 appeals each year.
  • Our electronic billboard campaign reached 16 million people across the UK.
  • MBUs and perinatal mental health teams across the country were invited to listen in, several did and some held listening parties and cake sales to mark the broadcast.
  • New people found APP - we received letters and emails from individuals who had been personally affected by PP.
  • The appeal and billboard campaign was shared by Maternal Mental Health Alliance, NCT, Royal College of Midwives, iHealthVisiting, Pandas UK and others.
  • Huge reach and lots of engagement on social media during the month of the appeal (158,000 reach, a 76% increase on the previous month!) including shares from Laura Dockrill, singer Paloma Faith, musician Hugo White, author Catherine Cho and others.
  • Anecdotal evidence of increase in referrals to local perinatal mental health teams.
  • Significant increase in number of new users on our forum.

Some quotes from donors:

‘I am giving a donation as I listen to the Radio 4 appeal - as it was something that happened in our family but was never talked about - our great grandmother died in an asylum in 1901 having been admitted following the birth of my grandmother in 1900. Last year I went to read the medical notes in the public record offices - she was an inmate for a harrowing 10 months, her behaviour - she believed her body was not her own and wished it destroyed - all meticulously recorded by the staff. Sadly she died of an unrelated infection. My grandmother never had a mother. So to find out your charity exists is a good thing. Good luck with your future.’

‘I’m so glad you're raising awareness about this. My mother was a sufferer’

‘I follow Laura Dockrill on Instagram and I saw she had posted about the campaign on Radio 4, which is why I have donated. I know two people who have a suffered from postpartum psychosis and after going through peri and post natal depression myself, I’m so grateful charities such as APP exist. Keep up the good work!’

Our Impact Story is live on the BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal website.

Thank you to everyone for getting involved, donating, sharing our social media posts, holding events and using this appeal as a way to start new conversations about PP and maternal mental health.