APP July 2025 Newsletter
Annual peer support survey
If you have accessed APP’s peer support services, please tell us what you think by completing our survey.
The survey will take around 15 minutes to fill in. It is open to anyone who has used APP's peer support service (whether that is the online forum, café groups, one to one support via email, video/phone call or face-to-face, creative or wellbeing groups, or had any other contact with an APP peer support volunteer or staff member). We would also like to hear from volunteers who have delivered peer support.
Your responses will help us improve APP’s peer support and report to our funders on the importance of our work. If you have used our service this year, please complete the survey and help us demonstrate how many people our service is reaching.
The survey can be completed anonymously and is confidential. Any comments you wish to add will also remain anonymous, but might be used as quotes in our reports.
Free APP webinar: Essential knowledge for preventing maternal suicide
Most powerful session I have ever attended.
So much valuable information delivered today, so well put together. Very touching real-life stories bravely told from those who have lived experience.
The 2025 APP Webinar for frontline health professionals working with families in the perinatal period will be held on Wednesday 8th October.
Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK and rates are increasing nationally. This free webinar is open to frontline health professionals working with families in the perinatal period and will outline the actions needed to support and protect women who develop postpartum psychosis.
The webinar will be delivered in collaboration with The National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University (NCMH) and General Practitioners Championing Perinatal Mental Health Care (GPCPC), and will include talks from APP’s clinical, academic and lived experience experts.
This will be the third in the webinar series. 6,438 health professionals have signed up in previous years. Of attendees, 93% rated the training as ‘excellent’; 7% rated it ‘good’ and 100% agreed they would change their practice as a result.
You can book your free place here. There’s no limit to the number of places available - please share the details with colleagues and encourage them to join us for this important event.
A poster to promote the webinar can be downloaded here. Health professionals, please put one up in your place of work!
Health professional training in postpartum psychosis: book your place
Book now for our online training “Best practice care in postpartum psychosis” on Wednesday 12th November 2025.
The one-day online course is suitable for professionals working with pregnant and postnatal women and families. It draws upon cutting-edge research in postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder and the experiences of women and families. It is designed to increase confidence in identifying and managing risk, identifying early symptoms, and providing high quality support to women and families from preconception to full recovery.
1 day course cost: £195. There is a special early bird rate of £165 for bookings made before 13th September. Find out more and book here.
If you would like training tailored for your team, have questions, or to join our training mailing list, please email: training@app-network.org
Peer support volunteer training
I attended the APP peer support training to become a peer supporter myself. It has been so very special to be able to share my own recovery to help other women in theirs.
Are you a Black mum in the UK who has experienced mania or psychosis in the perinatal period? Would you like to train to support others?
We will be running a peer support training for new volunteers in London on 6th September. We already have lots of interest from potential new volunteers, but we would love to train more Black peer support volunteers who are willing to offer a few hours a month to support recovering mums.
If you are interested in finding out more, please get in touch with us: app@app-network.org.
Literature packs
We’ve been busy preparing hundreds of summer literature packs which we’re sending to all 22 Mother and Baby Units across the UK.
The packs, to support women being treated on each unit, have been made possible thanks to generous donations from Booktrust and Spacemasks and include board books, finger puppets and a Spacemask (for mum) all in a lovely canvas bag. Also included are copies of APP leaflets, posters and four Insider Guides, including our latest guide, Being A Parent after Postpartum Psychosis.
Free PP guides for mums, parents and families
Well done to everyone who put this together - it’s really useful and well written.
Our newest Insider Guide, Being A Parent after PP, is now available as a hard copy. We can post FREE printed copies of this and all our helpful guides about postpartum psychosis to individuals and health professional teams in the UK.
Just email us with your name, address and which guides you’d like: app@app-network.org. Or download them from our website here.
You can also find translated guides and our antenatal campaign toolkit resources on our website.
Peer Support in the North West
Not only are the staff at Ribblemere Mother and Baby Unit an amazing support for the mums and families on the ward… but also incredibly artistic!! Look at the window they painted at the weekend!
Jocelyn, Peer Support Facilitator, Lancashire and South Cumbria
Do you live in the North West? APP has partnership projects with the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and in Manchester. If you’d like to meet other mums, parents and families with experience of postpartum psychosis at our community café groups or become an APP volunteer, please email: lancsandcumbria@app-network.org or manchester@app-network.org
In the media
Rich Baish, APP’s Development Manager, talked to Healthcare Today about postpartum psychosis and how it should be treated.
APP volunteer, Natalie, wrote a moving article for Chat magazine for Fathers' Day last month about her experiences of PP and how her partner Chris supported her through it. Chris and Natalie do so much to raise awareness of PP and we're so grateful to them for sharing their story (below).
Fundraiser thank yous
We had a wonderful time on our first ever APP Adventure last month! More than 35 people came together in the beautiful Peak District to take on a 13km walk of Mam Tor (Mother Hill) passing through the village of Hope. The walk was slightly more challenging than some of us anticipated, and we endured all weathers - from a heatwave to sideways rain! But a fantastic time was had by all, new friendships made, old friends reunited and nearly £12,000 raised for APP in the process. (It’s not too late if you fancy sponsoring the APP staff team for their efforts - click here to add your support!)
Fancy joining us for our next adventure? We’re already making plans - watch this space for more details very soon!
A massive thank you to all our recent fundraisers - and there’s been a lot!
A team of eleven runners took on the Barnsley 10k on a super hot day in June, raising more than £4,000 in the process. Amazing effort!
APP peer support volunteer Amy T planned her own massive Miles for Mums and Babies challenge in early July - walking 36 miles over two days along the South Downs Way from Chichester to Winchester. She wanted to raise funds for APP because:
Accessing APP’s peer support was a critical step in my recovery and I now volunteer to support other mums. Walking was fundamental to my recovery - being out in nature, covering ground and moving through landscapes helped me heal and return to myself.
Clément braved the London 10k in temperatures of over 30 degrees last weekend - he says:
APP is a cause close to my heart as my mother experienced postpartum psychosis shortly after my birth.
Thank you for representing APP Clément.
Over in the United States, Clinical Psychologist Eliza (pictured below) took on the Hudson Valley triathlon for APP!
Amy B took part in an amazing 5k inflatable obstacle course in Southampton during the same heatwave weekend - she took on the challenge to help raise awareness and reduce stigma.
Plenty more fundraisers coming up too
In September, Alan and his team are planning an ultramarathon across the county of Northamptonshire to highlight the lack of provision for families affected by PP in that area.
And in the North East, we’ll have a team of six taking on the world famous Great North Run for APP - look out for our runners Fiona, Jo, Gemma, James, Debbie and Hannah on the TV coverage or give them a cheer if you’re in the area!
Feeling inspired?
Check out our updated challenge page where you’ll find events for the autumn and winter, plus new ones for 2026 that are already open and selling fast! Brighton Marathon, Edinburgh Marathon, London Landmarks Half, Manchester Marathon, Paris Half and so many more! We’ve got something for everyone from 4.5k ‘Santa in the City’ fun runs for the whole family, to ultramarathons and trail runs. We’d love to have you on board #TeamAPP!
Making A Difference Cards
Check out our brand new designs available exclusively at Making A Difference Cards - with artwork generously created and donated by one of our youngest supporters, Thomas, age 8. The sale of every card includes a donation to APP so if you have an occasion coming up - birthday, anniversary, graduation, or if you just need a 'thinking of you' card - click here and go to ‘charity’s own designs’ to browse Thomas's artwork and find out more.
Regular Giving
We're so grateful to our donors who give regularly via a monthly direct debit. Each year our generous regular donors contribute enough to help us reach out to and offer peer support to more than 145 new parents affected by postpartum psychosis - peer support that parents tell us is life changing and life saving.
Regular donations like this are vital as they allow us to be able to budget and plan ahead. If you could support us with a regular gift, of any size, it really does make a difference, and it’s so easy to set up. Find out more here.
Easyfundraising
Booking a holiday? Travel insurance? Airport parking? Theatre tickets? Whatever you have planned for the summer holidays, if you shop via easyfundraising, APP will receive a donation at no extra cost to you! Supporters have raised more than £300 through their shopping and it’s super easy to set up. There’s a quick explainer here about how it all works.
APP joins expert panel following screening of ‘Holy Baby’
APP’s Community Engagement Manager, Rachel Evans, was invited to join an expert panel to discuss the themes explored in Holy Baby – a new short film produced by actor and writer, Phoebe Cowley, in partnership with fellow producer Isabel Gaytan.
Holy Baby, which premiered at Finsbury Park Picturehouse in July, follows the story of a young couple, Stef (played by Phoebe Cowley) and Louis (played by Shadrach Agozino) who are struggling to come to terms with their situation following the traumatic birth of their baby. Stef thinks that the only option is to give the baby away and leaves him outside her local church believing he will be safer there.
The story explores themes of postpartum psychosis and has been inspired by real life stories. The APP team also provided Phoebe and Isabel with messages of support for their crowdfunding campaign as well as expert guidance and factual messaging relating to postpartum psychosis, while producers also collaborated with Maternal Mental Health Alliance and Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind.
Rachel said:
Holy Baby is a sensitively produced short film highlighting the devastating impact of postpartum psychosis on new parents. It highlights the pivotal role partners can and do play in supporting women to access the urgent help and support needed.
The soundtrack to the film is extremely clever, in its portrayal of everyday sounds becoming heightened during psychosis whilst other sounds are more muted, it makes for a very effective short film - especially in highlighting this illness to new audiences.
APP Peer Supporter, Maria Fernández also attended the screening. She said:
I was touched by the respect and compassion that the filmmakers gave to the subject of postpartum psychosis. Ultimately Holy Baby was a compelling portrait of the illness and will help to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
The film was directed by James Coyle, with cinematography by Eoin McLoughlin and will be screened at a range of festivals and events in the coming months. APP hopes to share updates on local screenings later this year.
Vacancies of interest
Peer Support Worker - Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has a vacancy for a peer support worker (PSW) at Leeds Mother and Baby Unit.
Working as part of the multi-disciplinary team, the PSW will provide formalised peer support and practical assistance to service users/partners. The PSW will also act as a recovery champion within the team and an ambassador of recovery for the Trust with external agencies and partner organisations. You can read more about the role and find details of how to apply here.
Diary dates
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 11th August
- APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 20th August
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 5th September
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 8th September
- APP UK-wide virtual café group meet up, Thursday 11th September
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackpool, Friday 12th September
- APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 13th September
- APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 17th September
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Lancaster, Wednesday 17th September
- APP Northern Ireland virtual café group meet up, Thursday 18th September
- APP Lancashire and South Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Preston, Friday 19th September
- APP London virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 23rd September
- APP Yorkshire face to face café group meet up in Leeds, Saturday 4th October
- APP Scotland face to face café group meet up in Edinburgh, Saturday 18th October
Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.
Conferences/Events
Wales & South West England Maternity & Midwifery Festival, Tuesday 23rd September
Free to attend professional festival in Cardiff, bringing together qualified and student healthcare professionals to hear from maternity leaders on a wide range of topical themes. Booking details here.
Suicide Bereavement UK's 14th international hybrid conference, Thursday 25th September.
Hybrid conference in Manchester and online for anyone who comes into contact with those bereaved or affected by suicide. More details and booking information here.
Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in the Perinatal Period, Thursday 25th September
Online conference looking at how Women with Eating Disorders can be better supported in pregnancy. The event will focus on learning from lived experience, understanding why pregnancy can trigger eating disorders and exploring how we can better identify women with disordered eating. A 20% discount is available for members of the APP network with code hcuk20app . More details and booking here.
Recognising and Responding to Maternal Deterioration, Wednesday 15th October
Online conference looking at how MEWS, NEWTT2 and the Perinatal Optimisation Care Pathway have been adopted in organisations across the country and the impact on recognising and responding to deterioration in maternity care. A 20% discount is available for members of the APP network with code hcuk20app . More details and booking here.
If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org.