APP March 2025 Newsletter
APP has won a top UK health award!
We’re delighted that Action on Postpartum Psychosis has been selected as one of 10 winners of the prestigious 2025 GSK Kings Fund IMPACT awards.
Now in their 28th year, the awards are a mark of excellence in the charity sector, recognising outstanding work by small and medium sized charities.
APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, said:
We are delighted to be recognised by GSK and The King’s Fund. Our work brings together expertise from women and families with personal experience, academics and clinicians to raise awareness, support recovery, train professionals and campaign for mental health services for new mums. So much has changed over the past ten years, but we still have much work to do. This award will help us grow and reach more women affected by this frightening illness. Challenging stigma and misinformation and raising awareness is essential to make sure women can access rapid, appropriate care.
You can read more here.
Happy Mother's Day
A very happy Mother’s Day for Sunday, from the APP team.
However you plan to spend the day, we hope it will be a special time for you. If you would like to support APP, you can buy your Mother's Day cards at Making A Difference Cards. Browse a huge selection of both virtual and actual cards, personalise, add photos, messages and puzzles here.
For those who find the day difficult or are remembering mums who are no longer with us, APP is here to support you. Our volunteers are on the forum every day of the year, or you can request email or video call support here.
Join the first-ever APP Adventure
We’ve had an incredible response already to our Mam Tor APP Adventure with dozens of supporters signing up to take part on 21st June. There’s still time if you want to join us though – we’re hoping for a fabulous day in the Peak District.
We now have two distances to choose from too – pick between our 8 mile option, or if that’s not enough of a challenge for you, we can also offer a tougher 20 mile route.
Sign up today and be part of our first ever APP Adventure.
Miles for Mums and Babies 2025 needs you!
APP’s biggest fundraiser is coming soon and we’d love you to be part of it. Our Miles for Mums and Babies fundraiser allows you to pick your own challenge - you choose how and when you want to complete your miles and how many you want to do.
Lots of people choose a number that means something to them - so if they or a family member have been affected by PP, then they might choose the number of miles they had to travel to an MBU or how many days they were treated for - or you can pick another number - whatever you want.
You can complete the miles however you fancy - in the past people have run, walked, swum, cycled, toddled, even rollerskated and paddleboarded - or a mix! You could do it all in one day, over a week, a month or longer. We focus activity in May to tie in with Maternal Mental Health Awareness month but if you’d rather do it at another time, that’s ok too!
You can even rope in friends, family or colleagues and make it a team challenge if you like - work together to complete the miles!
Check out lots of ideas of Miles for Mums and Babies challenges others have taken on, on our Miles for Mums news page from last year and the year before for inspiration.
Get in touch and we’ll send you a free info pack. Sign up and pledge to raise at least £50 and we’ll send you an APP running top or t-shirt too. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Launch of North Central and East London Provider Collaborative
Rachel Evans, APP’s Community Engagement Manager, attended the launch of the NCEL Perinatal Provider Collaborative (PC) in February. The event brought together key partners to review progress, set actions, and explore collaboration in perinatal mental health.
The NCEL Perinatal PC supports moderate to severe perinatal mental health services, aiming to reduce health inequalities, standardise care, and strengthen service user voices.
Rachel (pictured above) said:
Hearing mums’ experiences of Mother and Baby Units and Specialist Perinatal Teams is vital, and it was great to see this at the heart of discussions. Meeting women in person and hearing their stories was invaluable. Dr Alice Haynes from Anna Freud shared key recommendations from the Strategic Health Needs Assessment, highlighting ongoing work and areas needing support - many of great interest to APP. Thanks to all involved.
To learn more about APP’s London project, providing peer support to women and families who have experienced postpartum psychosis, email app@app-network.org. For details of the next London APP Peer Support café, visit here.
Learn more about Legacy Giving in support of APP
March is free Wills month so it’s a great time to think about planning for the future. If you’ve not got round to writing a Will yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about it.
We’ve recently developed a new information pack for anyone interested in finding out more about leaving a gift to APP in their Will. Leaving a legacy to APP could help us make an impact and support women and families long into the future, and it’s less complicated to do than you might think.
You can find out more and request our free info pack here.
Thank you.
Join the #PrioritiseWomensHealth campaign
APP has joined the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and 48 other organisations in a joint letter calling for concrete commitment to ensure women receive the quality healthcare they need throughout their lives.
The letter, sent to mark International Women’s Day, urges the government to put women and girls at the heart of health policy
You can read and share the letter here.
Update: Progress on New Mother and Baby Unit in Chester
As part of our ongoing campaign for more Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), APP staff Sally and Jocelyn, along with local APP volunteers, have been supporting the development of the new unit through the Experts by Experience group, Helix. This has included sharing lived experiences to shape the unit’s design, advising on the facilities, and ensuring the voices of those with experience of postpartum psychosis in North Wales, Cheshire and Wirral are central to planning.
Seren (which means star in Welsh) Lodge is being built at The Countess of Chester site. The new MBU is a result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCHUB), Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and NHS Wales.
The eight-bed unit will provide vital support for families across North Wales and North-West England and is set to open by the end of the year, with recruitment now underway.
If anyone with lived experience in the Cheshire, Wirral, or North Wales areas would like to find out more about the Helix group you can do so here.
The photograph above shows APP volunteers Sarah (front row, second left) and Nia (front row 3rd right), along with APP’s National Coordinator, NHS Contracts, Hannah Bissett (front row 2nd right) who joined the team for a special ground-breaking ceremony in February 2024.
#KeepMumsAndBabiesTogether
Join our writing for wellbeing Q&A
Author, podcaster and speaker Katherine May is hosting a conversation and Q&A about writing for wellbeing, for those with lived experience of postpartum psychosis.
Katherine May is an internationally renowned writer, podcaster and speaker whose work touches on nature, spirituality, slow living and neurodivergence. She is the author of several books including 'Wintering' 'Enchantment' and 'The Electricity of Every Living Thing'. She also hosts the chart-topping podcast 'How We Live Now'. Visit katherine-may.co.uk to find out more. A huge thank you to Katherine for leading this workshop for our community.
The workshop is being held on Thursday 27th March between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Zoom. There are 25 free spaces available. You can book your place here.
(Photographer credit: Alexa Loy Dent)
Support the Black Maternity Experience Survey 2025
The Black Maternity Experience Survey, which is designed to gather insights about the maternity care experiences of Black and Black mixed-heritage people in the UK, is now open.
Organised by Five X More, it’s open to individuals who identify as Black or Black mixed-heritage, are currently pregnant or have been pregnant and given birth since July 2021, and have accessed their maternity care through the NHS.
You can learn more and access the survey here.
APP is planning a new Black women’s cafe group for those who have experienced postpartum psychosis. If you’d like to get involved in setting up the group or are interested in attending please get in touch with ellie@app-network.org.
Raising awareness of PP: Support for dads and co-parents
APP volunteer Chris and his wife Natalie recently took their season of raising awareness to the Uned Gobaith/Unit of Hope Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Tonna, Wales.
Chris combined the visit with a trip to watch Swansea vs Burnley at the Swansea.com (Liberty!) stadium. Since 2023, Chris has been going to football matches at grounds closest to the 22 UK MBUs. He has a specially made purple APP football shirt that he wears for every match and does his best to get a mention in the matchday programme each time. Chris and Natalie visit each MBU along the way sharing their stories, raising awareness of APP and the dads and co-parents peer support project.
Chris shared his family’s experience of PP in MIDIRS Digest - the evidence based quarterly journal for all maternity workers and students from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). For those interested in the experiences and support needs of dads and co-parents, the article is a must read. If you or anyone else you know would like to learn more about the dads/co-parents group - or to join one of the cafe group meet ups - you can read more on our website or email simon@app-network.org.
We’re really grateful to Chris and Natalie (pictured above with APP Chief Executive Dr Jess Heron), for supporting our work. If you think you would like to do something to raise awareness, we can help by providing guidance on giving Lived Experience talks as well as literature, APP posters and resources. To find out more please email: app@app-network.org.
Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? – reflections from the APP team
From 31st January to 1st February 2025, some of the APP team attended Who Is Your Mummy and Where Did She Go? at Waterside Arts, Manchester - a powerful theatre production by Company Four that we’re proud to have supported.
The play, inspired by Company Four founder Gemma Whiteley’s family history research, is shaped by the voices of APP families. It explores postpartum psychosis through historical narratives, reflecting on past and present care.
Peer supporters from our national team, as well as our Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS projects, were at performances to share information and connect with anyone with PP experience.
Read the team's reflections here.
In the media
APP is proud to have worked behind the scenes with BBC One’s Casualty on a powerful PP storyline. You can learn more about Nicole’s gripping storyline and our work with Casualty here.
APP volunteer Juliette shared her PP experience and similarities with the Casualty storyline in Metro.
APP Storyteller, Georgina, also shared her story in Metro, to highlight the importance of seeking help and to give hope to others:
Until it happened to me I had no idea about postpartum psychosis, and I want other mothers to know that, no matter how frightening it is, you can recover with the right help – you just need to make sure you know the signs and how to ask for help when you need it.
APP's Zebunisa and Shaheda were on Ramadan FM. Shaheda joined Zebi as she hosted her ‘Reflect & Refresh’ show, and they also welcomed Iqra Khan for a conversation about postpartum psychosis, recovery journeys, and motherhood.
APP Chief Executive, Dr Jess Heron, and National Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson, joined Theo Clarke on her Birth Trauma podcast, to talk about postpartum psychosis and our work.
Fabulous fundraisers
Spring is here and with it comes fundraising challenge season! Good luck to everyone taking part in events for APP over the next few weeks – a special shout out to our Brighton Marathon and 10k participants. Becky, James, Alex, Bethan and Nick will be on the start line for the full marathon on 6th April, along with a team of 16, organised by Juliette (pictured above), taking part in the 10k. Our APP supporters will also be out in force on the day to cheer them all on. We can’t wait to hear how you all get on!
Feeling inspired?
We’ve recently updated our challenge page with loads of new events – including family friendly events like inflatable obstacle courses and ToughMudders across the country; Parallel Windsor - a festival of inclusivity with challenge events for all ages, health conditions and abilities; plus some amazing sounding cycle rides in Pembrokeshire and Surrey. There’s also the London 10k in July which is always a sell out – a fabulous first timer event as it passes all capital’s biggest sights on closed roads. Or if you’re thinking a bit further ahead there are loads of half marathons in October to choose from – in Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, London, Oxford and even Amsterdam! These always fill up fast so register soon if you’d like a place in one of them.
Plus keep an eye on our socials for a big announcement on challenge events coming soon...
We’re delighted that Millets Farm in Oxfordshire has chosen to support APP this year - do pay them a visit if you’re in the area. Jo, their Marketing and Events Manager explains why they wanted to help:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a cause close to our hearts, following the death of Alex in 2022, a much-loved local mother, teacher, and friend. Alex’s family and friends have been campaigning for increased awareness of this condition ever since.
Our customers can help us to support APP by choosing to add on a small donation when booking tickets to Sprouts Play Barn. Millets Farm will then match every donation made.
We hope that by supporting this charity we can not only raise money for them to continue their important work, but to also raise awareness of this treatable condition impacting families.
Thank you to all at Millets Farm for your support. If you know of a local business that could support APP, please do get in touch.
Dates for your diary
APP London virtual café group meet up, Monday 24th March
APP Birmingham face to face café group meet up, Friday 28th March
APP London face to face café group meet up, Saturday 29th March
Mother’s Day, Sunday 30th March
World Bipolar Day 2025, Sunday 30th March
APP Muslim womens virtual café group meet up, Friday 4th April
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria face to face café group meet up in Blackburn, Friday 4th April
APP North East face to face café group meet up, Monday 7th April
APP Manchester face to face café group meet up, Friday 11th April
APP Lancashire and south Cumbria virtual café group meet up, Monday 14th April
APP dads and co-parents virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 16th April
APP London virtual café group meet up, Tuesday 22nd April
APP Northern Ireland virtual café group meet up, Thursday 24th April
APP UK wide virtual café group meet up, Wednesday 30th April
Contact information for all APP café groups is available here.
Events/conferences
First-Ever MMHS Summit – A Celebration of Maternal Mental Health Services, Wednesday 30th April
National online event celebrating the incredible work happening within maternal mental health services (MMHS) in the UK. Find out more and book tickets here.
Annual Birth Trauma Summit, Tuesday 13th May
Face to face event in London featuring speakers and workshops following the themes of “Back to Basics” and “Celebrating 10 years”. Live streams and recordings will also be available. More information and book tickets here.
Hearts and Minds Partnership national meet-up, Monday 19th May
Free meet-up day in Birmingham to connect, support and celebrate the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in perinatal mental health. More information and book your place here.
Improving Perinatal Mental Health Services, Friday 27th June
Online conference with presentations from expert speakers at local and national level. Learning from the most recent MBRRACE- UK Report and roadmap to strengthening perinatal mental health will be shared. Members of the APP network will receive a 20% discount with code hcuk20app. Book here.
If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org.