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APP News December 2019: Merry Christmas! | #APPFutureMidwife | Fundraising survey | Don't Send A Card! | Peer Support update and more...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at APP!

APP's Director, Dr Jess Heron, gives an update of our achievements in 2019: "I hope this Xmas newsletter will give a flavour of the huge strides made by Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) this year. I would like to thank to our wonderful team of staff: it has been a remarkable year for APP and I am so proud of our supportive, hard-working, dedicated team.

In 2019, we have: reached more women and families across the UK with peer support; set up new regional projects; developed our handbooks, training and resources for volunteers; produced information on Being a Parent after Postpartum Psychosis (PP); facilitated more research studies; delivered fantastic co-produced health professional training; and seen campaigning results with the commitment to build a new Mother & Baby Unit in South Wales and the recognition of Postpartum Psychosis in midwifery training standards. We have: built our UK coverage of Regional Rep volunteers who link with local professionals to support co-production and service improvement, and who, this year, delivered talks to over 3500 health professionals. We have grown our media volunteer team, and supported hundreds of PP media & social media stories. We�ve been involved in some great awareness raising projects, like Louis Theroux�s programme, PP books, theatre productions, and the independent film, Irene�s Ghost - listed in The Guardian�s top 10 films of the year. We are also starting to have some small global impacts too, partnering with Psicosis Posparto institute on a Spanish postpartum psychosis website and collaborating with the African Maternal Mental Health Alliance on an awareness film in Malawi.

We are starting to sense that, in the UK, PP might no longer the �silent mental illness� hidden by the stigma and shame of generations: the brave voices of our volunteers, staff and trustees with experience of PP are starting to be heard, throughout the UK, at all levels in our society.

None of this would have been possible without the diligent backing of our Chair of Trustees, Dr Giles Berrisford, clinical advisors, trustees, funders, fundraisers, supporters, and our army of amazing volunteers. Thank you warmly for all you do. Also, Emma Harvey, is leaving us this month, after running APP�s office for over two years. She has been the warm, encouraging point of contact for APP�s fundraisers and we would like to thank Emma enormously for her work on behalf of the charity.

We are acutely aware that there is still much to be done. In 2020 we will continue to build APP into a sustainable entity for the future. We will continue our focus on the above areas: reaching more women and families at risk of, or affected, by PP; ensuring our charity meets the needs of women from diverse backgrounds; developing information for bereaved families; developing information about Mother & Baby Units; and developing our peer support for partners, grandparents and family members. We will make APP�s peer support training and resources available to peer support staff employed in the NHS; we will continue to call for Mother & Baby Units in Wales, will begin our Northern Ireland campaign; and we will continue to fight to support midwives� access to perinatal mental health training. We have some fantastic APP events planned, so keep an eye out in the e-news and on social media.

Finally, I want to acknowledge that, for some women and their families, Christmas and New Year is a difficult time. Grief and loss, as our team of Peer Supporters know only too well, is amplified at this time of year. Some of you will have loved ones spending Christmas in Mother & Baby Units, or fighting some of the difficult symptoms of postpartum psychosis. We are thinking of you at this time."

A huge thank you to our fantastic fundraisers!

We are supported by amazing families throughout the country who raise funds for the charity through all sorts of fun activities and inspiring, awareness-raising events.

Thank You to our recent fundraisers:

Our 'Fab Four' Royal Parks Half Marathon runners Pete, Emma, Julie & Jessie - Read more
Anna's concert in Aberdeen, based on The Yellow Wallpaper - Read more
Arnside Ladies Choir 'Showstoppers' concert - Read more
Jenn's York Gunpowder Plot 10k run - Read more
Darryl's company's charity quiz night on 23rd November.
Louise & her son's 5k Mental Elf run in Blackburn on 1st December - Read more
Plymouth and District Soroptimist's who have held three different events in aid of APP during 2019!

...and to all of our supporters who are still planning events and cake sales in the run up to Christmas!

A special Thank You to everyone who has supported APP in 2019. It has been a bumper fundraising year. We know how much work and planning goes into these events. Thank you so much: and we couldn't support women & families without you.

>Fundraise for APP

Please help us by completing our Fundraising Survey!

We�d love to hear your thoughts to help us with our planning for our engagement and fundraising activities next year.

Please fill in our brief survey and help us to improve our engagement and fundraising, so that we can continue to support more women and families affected by PP:

The link to complete the survey is here:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/APPFundraisingSurvey

Thank you in advance.

Don't Send A Card!

This year, why not send e-Christmas cards online and support APP by giving a donation in lieu of cards and postage at the same time? There are lots of designs to choose from and you can help save the planet too!

APP are now featured on the Don't Send A Card website, with lots of designs of e-Christmas cards to choose from, including some artwork made by volunteers on our art workshop weekend in Devon!

Find out more here: https://www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecard/gs4o

Great News! Compulsory midwife training in Postpartum Psychosis from 2020!

We've been busy campaigning to ensure that compulsory midwife training includes postpartum psychosis and in October we heard the fantastic news that the new midwifery standards approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council includes PP!

This is a huge success, helped by your support. Thank you for helping to give new mums and their families affected by this illness a better future.

Please help us to improve our own midwife training by answering our online survey here or, please contact Sally, APP's Training Coordinator, if you�d like to share your experience, get involved in campaigning, or get involved in delivering health professional training.

>Visit APP on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to share our messages using the hashtag #APPFutureMidwife

APP's Regional Peer Support projects

Our caf� groups

Our caf� group meet-ups continue to grow: our first Yorkshire meet-up took place in Leeds on 29th November! Our caf� groups in London, Sussex, Newport & Lancashire continue to meet up, and we are about to start a new group in Birmingham. If you�d like to attend a meet-up and share your experiences of PP, we�d love to hear from you.

The groups are for anyone who has experienced PP - whether you are newly recovering, or had PP many years ago. You can bring a partner, friend, parent - or just come along. If you need help to attend, just talk to the coordinators about what you need.

Birmingham

Natalie, APP�s Peer Support Facilitator based in the Birmingham East Community Perinatal Mental Health Team, recently shared her story and information about the Birmingham project at the West Midlands Perinatal Mental Health Network and was interviewed by BBC West Midlands Radio, which you can listen to here. We recently ran our tenth peer support training for five peer support volunteers in Birmingham and hope to have our first caf� meet-up in the area before Christmas. If you would like to find out more and get involved with this project, please email us.

Newport

Ines, our South Wales Coordinator, has been joined by two assistant coordinators, Danielle and Barbara, who will support with organising the caf� group meet-ups, as well as attending networking and awareness-raising events in the South Wales area. Ines and the South Wales team would love to hear from any women in the area who are interested in attending our caf� group in Newport; there are dates coming up in December, as well as in the New Year. Please email us for more information and check out the dates via our social media. You can also find the project information leaflet here.

Lancashire & Cumbria

Peer Support Facilitator, Linda and Peer Support Worker, Jocelyn, and the whole APP team would like to say a massive Thank You and good luck to assistant coordinator, Louise, who has started her new role as Health & Wellbeing Worker at the Ribblemere MBU in Chorley. Louise has been a fantastic asset to our peer support team and we will miss her greatly. She will continue to be involved with the project in her new role and as a volunteer, so we are looking forward to more of her wonderful cakes and crafts in the future! Louise said: "It's been extremely rewarding to support the transition from the MBU to home. I can�t thank the APP team enough; every single one of you inspire me. There is nothing better than talking to someone with lived experience of PP."

If you have recovered from PP, live near the Ribblemere Mother & Baby Unit in Chorley, and would like to offer support to women and families recovering from PP please get in touch. To learn more about our monthly Lancs/Cumbria caf� group and project, read our information leaflet here or email.

Postpartum Psychosis Workforce Training

We continue to collaborate with health professionals to deliver perinatal mental health training across the UK. This year, APP's staff and volunteers have delivered lived experience talks to over 3,500 health professionals.

We have delivered our one day workforce training, which was co-produced and is co-facilitated by: women with experience of PP; world leading academics; and specialist perinatal clinicians, to seven teams across England - and will deliver the training in North, Mid & South Wales early in the New Year. Of the staff trained, 100% have said they would recommend APP's training, and the feedback has been fantastic.

"I thought this training was absolutely excellent. It was invaluable to hear lived experience and I felt confident in the absolute expertise of everyone included."

"The training material is excellent and I hope this training will be offered to all mental health professions."

"I think the training is essential for midwives, health visitors and social workers."

In November, we were involved in co-delivering specially developed workforce training to over 200 GP trainees in the Coventry and Warwickshire area and 150 ambulance staff in the West Midlands. We continue our collaboration supporting lived experience input to the Institute of Health Visiting's training.

Sally, APP's Training Coordinator says "We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities to input into health professional perinatal mental health training. It is vital to raise awareness, provide up to date research-based information and most importantly, lived experience insight into postpartum psychosis to all health professionals that are working with women in pregnancy and the perinatal period. We will continue to educate frontline health professionals, to save lives, but also, to ensure women and their families get the advice, treatment and support they need to recover."

For more information or to book APP training, please contact us by email or telephone on 020 3322 9900 to discuss requirements and availability.

>APP Workforce Training

Peer Support via video call

We have some exciting developments in our National Peer Support project. We have trained 10 experienced staff and volunteers in offering video call based peer support, and will be starting to offer this service in the New Year. This will mean that women in areas of the country, where we do not currently have face to face volunteers or cafe groups, can still benefit from a form of in-person support.

We continue to offer support via our forum, email and our one to one peer support by private message throughout the UK. Our forum now has 2,400 users who have been affected by PP throughout the world. The forum is closely moderated by an amazing team of well-trained and supported APP volunteers - and is so important for women and families.

"Eventually with time...I began to get better. It was not easy and...I didn't think I was ever going to get out of that darkness, but I remember coming on this website and reading the stories of postpartum psychosis. Those stories helped me hang on to hope. Recently I...decided to join so that I could share what I went through in hopes that someone going through it now may see yet another story of climbing out of this darkness."

Keep a look out on our website and social media for details of the new services. Please do get in touch if you would like to access our one to one peer support. The forum is monitored over Christmas: do get in touch if you are having a difficult time.

>APP Peer Support

Bipolar UK Conference

Jessie, APP's Social Media Coordinator attended the Bipolar UK conference on 17th November. She said: "Episodes of postpartum psychosis occur after approximately 20-25% of births to women with bipolar disorder, and so it's really important that women with Bipolar Disorder and their families are informed about the risks and support available. I went to the excellent and informative �Pregnancy and bipolar� talk by APP Trustees Dr Clare Dolman and Dr Ian Jones, and many women with lived experience of postpartum psychosis and Bipolar, and their families, came to talk to me at our stall.� You can read a report and presentations from the event here and read Anna Grace�s �10 Things That I Took From the Bipolar UK Conference� is well worth a read too.

You can link to APP�s web resource for women with bipolar disorder planning pregnancy here, and also our guide to planning pregnancy if you are a woman at high risk of PP. We have worked with the National Centre for Mental Health to create the flyer �Bipolar Disorder, pregnancy and childbirth: Information for women, partners and families�. You can download the flyer here.

In 2020, working with Cardiff University PhD student, Elen Thomas, we are developing a pregnancy workbook for women to use with their health professionals.

Books about postpartum psychosis

If you would like to help with reviewing books on postpartum psychosis for this section of the newsletter, please get in touch!

'The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood' by Susan Elliot

A powerful novel of motherhood, loss and loneliness. APP's Hannah says: "As a Mum who has experienced PP and a fellow northerner, I wanted to read this book. The author evokes the northern landscape and real day to day importance of the weather in the lives of her characters. I devoured the book over the course of a weekend: it is a gripping read - intertwining the present-day life of Leah, her reflections on past events, her search for answers about her life and the people she brings into it in the aftermath of her husband�s death. The book reaches a climax with spine-tingling terror and reality, describing postpartum psychosis and the past events and present terror that culminates in a devastating final chapter. An Author�s Note at the end of the book gives clear information about postpartum psychosis and signposts to APP, emphasising the importance of getting help and treatment for this psychiatric emergency. The book is not an easy read in places, so make sure you are well on course to recovery when you read it, but it is a powerful story which will resonate for many and will stay with me too."
>More information

'Rattled' by Jen S Wight

Parenthood brings sleepless nights, tears and tantrums, nappy changes from hell, and the firm belief that you�re Cameron Diaz...wait, what?! New mum, Jen Wight, wasn�t expecting that. But after her son was born, her worldview shifted in strange and unexpected ways. 'Rattled' tells the story of Jen's postpartum psychosis and her journey to becoming the wonderful mother she is today.
>Purchase 'Rattled' via Blackwells

We are excited about a number of books, plays and film pieces about PP due to be released in 2020.

Research update

Please join us to keep up to date about research studies that are currently recruiting. You can find out more about the research studies we are supporting here. If you are a researcher, and would like APP to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning.

Clinical & Genetic Studies

We work with researchers at Cardiff University to identify genes and other factors which are involved in increasing risk of PP or bipolar disorder - with the aim of improving our understanding of the causes of PP and eventually developing better treatments. The study involves an interview in person, or over the phone, and giving a blood sample or mouth swab. If you would like to help, please email the team.

Pregnancy and Birth Planning tools for those at risk of PP

We are working with Elen Thomas a PhD student at Cardiff University to develop and test a new tool to support decision making for women with Bipolar Disorder or previous Postpartum Psychosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. If you have experience of planning another pregnancy after PP, or have a bipolar disorder diagnosis and have had a baby / are planning pregnancy please get in touch via email with Elen Thomas.

Information and support needs for women with PP from Black and Minority Ethnic communities

Lauren Walsh is working with APP to understand the experience of PP for women from BAME communities and examine barriers to accessing the right information & support. The interview can be conducted in person, over Skype or telephone. If you identify as being from a BAME background and have experienced PP, please get in touch.

Upcoming Conferences & Events

APP will be at PeerFest in the Midlands on 3rd December and we are looking forward to the launch of the Maternal Mental Health Peer Support Principles, as part of work undertaken by women with lived experience as part of this Mind / MMHA project - a grant that was hosted by APP.

New play, The Arrival, by Bijan Sheibani, opened at The Bush Theatre, London this week and runs until 18th January. Bijan has worked with APP volunteers on a short film to be released in the new year, and says he has also written a PP strand running through this new play. You can find more information and tickets here. We are looking forward to seeing it and will review it in the next e-news.

We continue to support screenings of Irene�s Ghost, including Q&A panels featuring women with lived experience. Congratulations to Iain and the team on the latest Award for the film as Best Feature, from the Aesthetica Festival in York. You can read more here and find screenings of the film here.

APP will also have a stand at the Yorkshire & Humber Clinical Network event 'PMH - supporting organisations to improve service user development' on 10th December in Leeds.

London 2020 Maternal & Midwifery Festival - 21st January

The London Maternity & Midwifery Festival is returning to the ILEC Conference Centre in Earls Court on Tuesday 21st January 2020. FREE to attend.
>Find out more

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch.

Copyright � 2019 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
c/o Birmingham Mother & Baby Unit,
The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health,
25 Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2FG

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, c/o Baldwins, 10-11 St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at APP!

APP''s Director, Dr Jess Heron, writes:

"2020 has been a year that none of us will forget. All of us at APP would like to wish you a very happy and a relaxing Christmas.

Read our Christmas letter here, to find out about APP's impact in 2020. The past year has been especially hard for new mums and families, and the mental health of all of us.

Although we may be some time away from life returning to normal, we are looking forward to the year ahead. It will be our charity's 10 year anniversary in 2021. We will look back at the changes that APP has brought about in the UK over the decade. We'll report on our learning and how we could create change for women and families affected by PP outside the UK. In 2021, we plan to continue to build our peer support services, particularly: extending the regions supported by our caf? groups, continuing our online wellbeing activities, increasing support to partners, grandparents, and underrepresented communities, as well as the support we are able to offer to bereaved families. We are planning to add e-modules to our health professional training offering. We have a new Insider Guide out in the New Year. We have some exciting campaigns planned that we will launch in January. We are collaborating on lots of research studies, and we will begin to share findings from these next year.

As we know too well at APP, for some women and families, Christmas and New Year is a difficult time. Grief and loss may be amplified at this time of year. Some may have loved ones spending Christmas in a Mother and Baby Unit, or struggling with symptoms during the recovery period. We are thinking of you at this time. Our peer supporters are here to support every day of the year on our Forum. You are not on your own.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy festive period".

Peer Support Over the Christmas Period

Our Forum is manned every day over the Christmas period by staff and volunteers. If you would like to talk to others who have been there, please get in touch:

https://healthunlocked.com/app-network

If you are emailing the APP office, or requesting one to one email or video call support over the festive period, please bear with us. It may take a few days for us to get back to you.

Send an APP e-card this Christmas

Instead of sending cards this year, why not send an APP e-card, and donate the cost of the cards and stamps? Our e-card gallery has some beautiful designs created by mums with lived experience of postpartum psychosis, their children and families, by staff at Mother and Baby Units and our supporters. Thank you to everyone who got in touch to share their designs.

If you want to support APP in other ways this Christmas, you can also:

make a one-off donation or set up a monthly donation online here.
hold a festive fundraising activity or set up a festive Facebook fundraiser for friends and family to contribute to. If you would like support in setting this up, please email Kelly at fundraising@app-network.org.
consider becoming a volunteer next year, and support us with: peer support; training health professionals; attending events; working with health professionals to improve local services; telling your story in the media; research; or fundraising. Please get in touch: app@app-network.org.

APP in the media

It has been quite a month for APP media. We have announced a collaboration with TV soap, Hollyoaks, which is watched by around 500,000 people per episode.

We've appeared on Radio 4's Woman's Hour: Hannah Bissett (APP National NHS Contracts Coordinator) and Dr Ayesha Rahim (perinatal psychiatrist and Deputy Medical Director of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust) spoke articulately about the impact of PP on women and families, the need for Mother and Baby Units, and the importance of collaboration with the Hollyoaks team. You can listen back here.

We've also had pieces in Metro and Digital Spy.

The Independent published a comment piece, by our Director Dr Jess Heron, about the importance of Mother and Baby Units, and why Wales and Northern Ireland so desperately need one.

Please share these pieces on social media and help to amplify our messages.

Hollyoaks collaboration

Action on Postpartum Psychosis has been working with the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks to help create one of the soap's biggest storylines for Christmas 2020 and into the new year. This sees the character Liberty Savage (played by actress Jessamy Stoddart) become ill with postpartum psychosis following the birth of her child in September.

Through APP, the Hollyoaks production team has talked to mental health experts and women with experience of the illness to help create a realistic storyline for Liberty. APP's Director, Dr Jess Heron, and APP Coordinators with personal experience of postpartum psychosis, Hannah Bissett and Dr Sally Wilson, have worked closely with the Hollyoaks team since February. The APP team has commented on draft scripts and reviewed footage to help shape the postpartum psychosis storyline. Members of APP's support network and clinical experts have also met (virtually) with Jessamy Stoddart to share their personal stories. The Hollyoaks postpartum psychosis storyline has been building since September, when Liberty gave birth. Liberty has been showing signs that all might not be well, and things will reach crisis-point in December, when she will be admitted to hospital over Christmas.

This collaboration will raise awareness of PP and APP to a younger audience than we traditionally reach. We hope it will help to reduce the shock and confusion that women and families feel as they develop PP for the first time, and mean families are able to seek help earlier. Whilst TV soaps do not aim to be true to life, our support has enabled writers and actors to understand the experience. Our collaboration with EastEnders reached 5.7 million viewers with information on postpartum psychosis on Christmas day, 2015. We'll be working on further national publicity with the Hollyoaks team over Christmas and into the new year.

First online Peer Support Volunteer training

On Friday 4th and Saturday 12th December we ran our first online training sessions for new APP Peer Support Volunteers. It was lovely to get to meet the new volunteers, albeit not the same as having the chance to meet in person. Thank you to our new Peer Support trainer, Helen, and a warm welcome to our new volunteers.

Book onto APP''s workforce training

On Thursday 25th February, we will be running our first online PP health professional training day that can be booked by individual health professionals (rather than by NHS Trusts). The day is suitable for all professionals working with pregnant and postnatal women and families, including midwives, health visitors, GPs, social workers, perinatal mental health teams, obstetricians and psychiatrists.

If you would like to express interest in attending the day, please email sally@app-network.org.

Please note, we will be holding a separate training day next year for NHS employed peer support workers. Date to be confirmed.

Our fabulous fundraisers!

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our fundraisers during the pandemic. We would like to thank everyone who has hosted an event in aid of APP, as well as those who have donated; your support is greatly appreciated.

Facebook Fundraisers: Each month, we welcome new Facebook fundraisers, many of whom have supported APP and raised awareness of postpartum psychosis by holding a birthday fundraiser. It has been lovely to celebrate your special day with you.

TikTok live stream for APP: A year and a half after skydiving for APP, Dominic Bamber is organising a TikTok live stream event and video challenges on 1st January 2021 to support us. You can find a link to Dominic's TikTok page here and can visit and donate to Dominic's JustGiving page here.

Head shave for APP: Kate Stevenson-Pugh took the very brave step to shave her hair on 12th December to raise awareness and money to support APP's work, shown in the pictures above. You can visit and donate to Kate's JustGiving page here.

If you are a keen runner, walker or cyclist, please join our Active APP Facebook group. We are planning some exciting active challenges for 2021, and would love our cyclists and active supporters to join us for these fundraising and awareness raising challenges.

If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to get involved, contact fundraising@app-network for more information. We would love to support you. To keep up to date and support our fundraisers click here.

Dates for your diary

APP Yorkshire/North East virtual caf? group meet up, Friday 15th January 2021: APP Facebook events page.

APP London virtual caf? group meet up, Saturday 16th January 2021: APP Facebook events page.

Children''s Mental Health Week, 1st - 7th February 2021: www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

Time to talk day. A chance for everyone to be more open about mental health - to talk, to listen, to change lives. Thursday 4th February 2021: www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/time-talk-day

If you have dates you would like to add to APP's diary please, email us.

Copyright ? 2020 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
PO Box 137
Swansea
SA3 9BT

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, International House, 12 Constance Street, London, E16 2DQ.

APP is a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. You can find out more here.

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Please tell us what you think of APP''s Peer Support

Peer Support survey

Hello, I''m Ellie, APP''s National Peer Support Coordinator. I''d really like to hear your views on our peer support service.
Our survey will take about 15 minutes to fill in:

Take the survey

The survey is open to anyone who has used APP''s Forum, email service, video call peer support or caf? groups in 2019 and 2020. We would also like to hear from any of our volunteers who have delivered peer support during the same period.

Your views are so important because they will help us improve APP's peer support, as well as report to our funders on the importance of our work. We would like as many people as possible to take part so that we can show?how many people our project is reaching.?

The survey can be completed anonymously and is confidential.??Any comments or quotes you may wish to add will also remain anonymous.

It''s vital to everyone who works for APP that our peer support is as good as it possibly can be. So please, grab a cup of tea and let us know what you think, below!

Take the survey

With warm thanks for your help,

Ellie and the APP team.

Copyright ? 2020 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
PO Box 137
Swansea
SA3 9BT

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, International House, 12 Constance Street, London, E16 2DQ.

APP is a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. You can find out more here.

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Coronavirus update

APP's Director, Dr Jess Heron, writes:

Over the past few weeks, the UK has begun moving towards a 'new normal', with places of work, shops and leisure facilities slowly beginning to re-open. The peak of the coronavirus pandemic may have passed but the effects of the crisis continue to be felt by many and the long-term impact is likely to be significant. Since the start of the pandemic, APP's priority has been to support women and families, concentrating on providing peer support, signposting pregnant and postnatal women to the right services, and disseminating information. We continue to be here for women and families - do get in touch to: join a Facebook social group; join one of our regional ''cafe group'' Zoom calls for a cuppa; become a PP champion in your region; volunteer as a peer supporter; and do please get in touch if you are struggling and need information or to talk to a trained peer supporter. We have updated our web page detailing the way in which care for pregnant women and new mothers has changed, and how services can be accessed. You can find our latest Covid-19 information here.

In this newsletter we''d like to introduce you to some of the new APP projects and newest members of the team

Meet our new team:

Shaheda Akhtar - Peer Support Facilitator: BAME Engagement Project

Shaheda is working with APP to research and plan a programme of work helping to offer more support to women with PP from BAME backgrounds and their families. She says, "I am particularly interested in education, learning and linking in with community networks to get information about PP out to women and families, as well as details of the support and help that's available." Shaheda experienced PP in December 2018 following the birth of her daughter.

Shaheda's work will build on research by APP & Stafford University finding that: fear of being treated differently or with less compassion; fear of services; family, cultural and societal stigma; and misconceptions around causes, can be barriers to receiving the right support. The UK Confidential Enquiries find that Black and Asian women are more likely to die in the perinatal period, and the pandemic appears to be further increasing inequalities.

If you identify as being from a BAME background and would be willing to talk to Shaheda about your experience, share ideas about engaging with your community, tell your story for the APP website/social media, or train as a volunteer, please get in touch: app@app-network.org

Simon O''Mara - Partner Peer Support Facilitator

Simon has volunteered with APP for many years, after experiencing postpartum psychosis from a partner's view, when his wife had PP with their first child. He wanted to help raise awareness and find ways to improve support for partners and families as they watch their loved ones go through PP. Having shared his story and helped with the partner information guide, Simon went on to become a 1:1 peer supporter and has given talks from a partner's perspective to healthcare professionals.

Simon has now joined the APP team to develop our partner's peer support project, training more partners in peer support, and setting up a forum for partners to find information, post a question, or simply chat with other partners who have lived experience. If you would like to join the group you can find it here or email us: app@app-network.org.

Amy Spruce - Peer Researcher, PAAM study

Amy has recently joined APP as a Peer Researcher working on a collaborative study examining the 'Accessibility and Acceptability of Perinatal Mental Health Services for Women from Ethnic Minority Groups' (PAAM). The research is funded by NIHR and being conducted with Queen Mary University of London and The Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. Amy will be conducting qualitative interviews over phone or video call with women from Black, South Asian and White backgrounds about their experiences of perinatal mental illness and accessing specialist services''

Amy has experienced PP twice; in 2007 and 2014 following the birth of her sons. Amy was admitted to a Mother & Baby Unit on both occasions and attributes this, alongside the specialist support from the Community Perinatal Mental Health Team, as playing a fundamental part in her recovery.

Soukaina Bennani - Peer Support Facilitator: Birmingham MBU and West

Soukaina joins us as an embedded Peer Support Worker in the Birmingham Mother & Baby Unit, Sandwell and West Birmingham area, providing peer support to women, their partners and families affected by postpartum psychosis, in collaboration with the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust.

Soukaina brings experience of supporting adults and children with disadvantaged backgrounds in an education setting. She experienced postpartum psychosis in 2010 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016. Soukaina says, "using my lived experience of postpartum psychosis to support other women in their journey to recovery was always a burning desire. I feel I can use my skills to make a difference in the community".

Jessie Hunt - Marketing and Digital Communications Coordinator

Jessie joined the APP team in September 2019 to provide social media support and in June 2020 became our Marketing and Digital Communications Coordinator. Jessie helps to raise awareness of postpartum psychosis, support women and families in sharing their stories and drive change. Jessie has a background in campaigning, marketing and digital for major brands and not-for-profit organisations. Jessie studied Anthropology and Communications and is passionate about mental health, supporting women and social justice.

Jessie experienced postpartum psychosis 'out of the blue' in 2013, two weeks after the birth of her baby. As an APP volunteer for many years, she has given peer support to women and families, shared her own story in the press (including on a BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour documentary), and has given many talks to health professionals. She has even run a half marathon to fundraise for APP!

Jessie has helped us to target information to those who need it during this difficult time, and develop lots of new engaging and supportive content, including #HonestConversations with Dr Jo Black and Laura Dockrill, Claire's Top 10 Mindfulness Tips, Craft ideas with Jocelyn, APP's Book Club, and gained pro-bono support from creative agency Mother for our ''seek help' graphic, which has been seen and shared by thousands on social media.

Join our new North Wales cafe group

This month sees the launch of APP''s brand-new caf? group for North Wales. We are incredibly excited to be able to offer this service in an area which has little support for women who experience PP. The North Wales group - like all of our other social meet-ups - will be held online for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. The new group brings our total number of caf? groups to seven (they are also held in London, Sussex, South Wales, Yorkshire/ north-east, Lancashire & Cumbria and Birmingham and are currently open to women who live in the areas where we would normally meet). You can find the latest dates via our Facebook Events page here. We are continuing to seek funding to make these available in even more regions.

Ines, APP''s South Wales Project Coordinator, says: "I am so proud of our friendly caf? meet-up groups, where women and their families look forward to coming for postpartum psychosis support, advice and just talk about day-to-day life."

Lancashire sessional recruitment

Over the summer, APP will be recruiting sessional workers to support our work in Lancashire and South Cumbria. We''re looking for women with lived experience of PP to help provide peer support to women and families in the community as well as the Ribblemere Mother and Baby Unit. Our sessional workers help to run the monthly cafe group, support volunteers and take part in regional perinatal events and networks. You can find more information about the role as well as details of how to apply here.

Sign up for health professional training

Great news: If you are a health professional you can now take part in APP''s online training sessions in postpartum psychosis. In a continuing partnership with the Institute of Health Visiting, APP is inputting into their parent and infant mental health training. APP will also be delivering workforce training sessions online in the coming months. If you are planning to deliver online perinatal mental health training, and would like APP to deliver training in PP, or would like to enquire about APPs online training, please contact Sally, by email.

Currently pregnant?

APP has a wide range of resources to support women with bipolar or previous PP who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Do get in touch via email or visit our resources and peer support page. If you are currently pregnant and would like to test out a new interactive guide we are developing, please get in touch.

Thank you to our fundraisers!

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has organised a fundraiser in aid of APP and to those who have donated. We really do appreciate your support. With the ongoing restrictions, it has been amazing to see so many people still getting involved with birthday fundraisers and raising awareness of PP via Facebook, as well as the many active challenges that have been so successful in recent weeks.

May saw our most active challenge yet and the feedback and engagement was incredible! Thank you to all who took part and joined the APP Team for an Active May Challenge. We have loved following your active journeys and seeing you achieve great results too. We have also been blown away by the engagement from the Virtual Runner - May Challenge, where APP was chosen as the charity for the month. These active challenges have raised such incredible awareness of PP along with an outstanding amount of more than ?11,000 to continue research, services and support for women and families. Thank you all so much and a big thank you to Virtual Runner too for the incredible support!

Another thank you goes to Karen Savage who held a brilliant birthday fundraiser for her 60th birthday this year and of course to everyone who donated! Karen's event raised ?2,225 via her JustGiving page. Read more on Karen's birthday triumph here.

We also have some amazing fundraising campaigns happening right now which you can get involved in:

You can join #thelippyrunner in her July campaign to raise awareness of APP and postnatal mental health. Visit our website for more information on how to get involved, donate and also be in with a chance to win some Body Shop lipsticks!

You can also support Laura Dockrill in her 100 miles challenge, following on from Emma Watt who ran her 100 miles in June. You can read more about their challenge and donate here.

We would like to wish Sian, Laura and all of our fundraisers good luck in their challenges and we can't wait to hear all about your achievements!

If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to get involved, contact fundraising@app-network.org for more information. We would love to support you.

Dates for your diary

National Lipstick Day, 29th July. Wear your lipstick and fundraise for APP. Find out more here.

International Day of Friendship, 30th July. Why not check in on your new-mum friend?

National Relaxation Day, 15th August

Maternal Suicide Awareness Week, 7th-11th September

Marce Conference, 5th-7th October: www.marcesociety.com. The APP team will be attending the virtual conference this year to present to health professionals and academics from around the world about our work.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org

Copyright ? 2020 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
PO Box 137
Swansea
SA3 9BT

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, c/o Baldwins, 10-11 St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT.

APP is a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. You can find out more here.

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APP''s festive campaign

We would like to thank you for your support this year. 2020 has been a difficult year for many people. Separation from family and friends has been a challenge for us all, but isolation and lack of support has been particularly hard for pregnant women, new parents and those recovering from postpartum psychosis (PP).

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, APP's priority has been to support women and families who need us. We've concentrated on: providing high-quality peer support; setting up new services to help people connect during this time; signposting pregnant and postnatal women to the right services; and disseminating expert information. This year we have:

- matched 246 women or partners with a recovered volunteer to receive one-to-one peer support.
- supported 250 people a month on our Peer Support Forum. The Forum now has more than 2,700 registered users, and is open 365 days a year, providing a place for anyone affected by PP to talk about their experiences and find support from volunteers.
-   launched a new video call 1:1 peer support service;.
- have continued to hold regular caf? group meet ups (via video call and socially distanced walks) and added a new caf? group for North Wales taking our number of regional social groups to seven.
-   increased our support for partners, with a new Partners Coordinator, Simon, and more dad volunteers trained in peer support.
- reached millions of people with our social media campaigns and media pieces, including developing our #MumWatch graphic - raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis - which has been seen by 278,500 people.
-   delivered training and lived experience talks to more than 1,700 multidisciplinary health professionals.
- worked locally and nationally to help improve services and campaign for the needs of women and families who develop PP during the pandemic to be met.
- set up lots of new online social activities, for example: the APP Book Club; a Running, Walking and Cycling group; art and craft activities, and more to help people stay connected.

2020 has brought financial challenges for maternal mental health charities at a time when support has never been more vital. If you would like to support APP's festive appeal financially you can:

. make a one-off donation or set up a monthly donation online here.
. hold a festive fundraising activity or set up a festive Facebook fundraiser for friends and family to contribute to. If you would like support in setting this up, please email Kelly at fundraising@app-network.org
. send festive e-cards and donate the cost of the cards and stamps to APP. Our supporters have sent us beautiful e-card designs for our e-card gallery this year.

If you're not able to make a donation this year, you can help us in other ways as we try to break down the stigma surrounding perinatal mental illness and raise awareness of postpartum psychosis. Please share APP's posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and talk to whoever you can about the importance of maternal mental health charities and specialist perinatal services. Look out for lots of PP and APP press pieces over Christmas.

Thank you for supporting us through this difficult year.

Tell us what you think of APP''s peer support

Have you given us your views on APP's peer support services? If not there''s still time. If you have used APP''s forum, email service, video call, caf? group or had contact with an APP Volunteer in 2019/20, please complete our survey. Your responses will help us improve APP's peer support, and report to our funders on the importance of our work. It will take around 15 minutes to fill in and we hope as many of our users will complete it as possible.

Join the APP volunteers festive craft-along

APP's online social activities have been an important part of our work this year, helping to build communities and tackle isolation, especially among mothers. Later this week, Jocelyn - our Peer Support Facilitator for Lancashire and South Cumbria - will be hosting a live festive cards crafting event for our volunteers. It's a chance to connect with mums, have a chat and make something beautiful in time for Christmas!

To join the free craft-along on Thursday 3rd December from 7.30pm to 8.30pm sign up via Eventbrite here.

Please note: this event is for APP volunteers only. If there is interest we will look into running more like this in future.

International Marc? Society Conference

Between the 5th and 7th October, APP attended the International Marc? Society for Perinatal Mental Health virtual conference, hosted by The University of Iowa.

The conference brings together researchers, clinicians and those with lived experience of perinatal mental illness from around the world to share research and learning.

APP delivered a symposium about improving experiences and outcomes for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis in the UK. The aim of this session was to discuss strategies that could be used globally. We shared evaluations of some of our projects, together with resources and strategies that APP has used to create national change. We discussed data from our: peer support programme; health professional training; media and awareness raising work; research and information development work; campaigning activities and our regional representatives and co-production projects.

The picture below shows the APP team at the conference:

Join our Scottish volunteer network

APP has a fantastic network of volunteers, including our Regional Reps and Peer Support Volunteers. Regional Reps give lived experience talks at events and training sessions, help us to connect with health professionals, disseminating information and supporting patient involvement in developing NHS services. We are keen to expand our network in Scotland and are looking for volunteers to help us. If you would like to know more please do get in contact with us.

Maternal Mental Health Scotland

APP would like to thank Dr Roch Cantwell who retires this month as senior consultant psychiatrist in Glasgow and Clyde. He has done so much for the field of perinatal mental health, in Scotland and globally. He led the establishment of Scotland's first Mother and Baby Unit and specialist community perinatal mental health team. He is the lead psychiatry assessor for the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths report. He chaired the SIGN development group, outlining national guidelines for the care of perinatal mood disorders for Scotland. He also established the charity Maternal Mental Health Scotland, to campaign for improved mental health services for women, their infants and families. Dr Cantwell continues as the Lead Clinician for the Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland, and will continue to have a huge impact for families affected by severe postnatal mental illness for years to come.

Media, books and films update

Congratulations to Catherine Cho who has been shortlisted for the 2020 Sunday Times/University of Warwick Young Writer of the Year award for her memoir, Inferno' which describes her experience of postpartum psychosis following the birth of her son. You can read more about the awards here.

Bijan Sheibani's short film 'Morning Song' is now available on Film4. It follows the story of Yasmin, a mum with postpartum psychosis, on her journey for treatment in a Mother & Baby Unit. You can watch the film here.

APP's National Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson, and researcher, Jasdeep Grewal, talked to BBC Radio Northampton in November about Jasdeep's study of PP in the Punjabi community. You can listen again here.

Thanks to all APP''s media volunteers who share their stories, to help raise awareness of PP and to support our campaigning work. You can read the latest news stories about postpartum psychosis and APP on our website.

APP fundraisers

We are incredibly grateful to our fundraisers for their continued support during the pandemic. We would like to thank everyone who has hosted an event in aid of APP, as well as those who have donated; your support is appreciated.

4 million steps: Rachel Lucas and 10 friends are walking 4 million steps to support APP's work. They have already reached their ?1,000 target. Rachel says: 'We're really pleased with how much we've raised so far! And having all the walking to focus on during lockdown has also been good for us too. I'm glad to hear our fundraising efforts will make a big difference.' You can visit and donate to Rachel's JustGiving page here.

Pedalling for PP awareness: Donations are continuing to come in for Simon and Judith Hill's 2,500 mile cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats and back. Simon and Jude's efforts have been incredible and they have now raised more than ?5,500 for APP. Find Simon and Jude's JustGiving page here, "Pedalling for PP awareness".

Sally's half marathon to support APP: A huge thank you and congratulations to Sally Hogg, who a year after skydiving for APP, ran a half marathon around her local area on 11th October. Sally was due to be running the Royal Parks half marathon for APP but it was postponed because of the pandemic. She's planning to complete the Royal Parks race next year. Sally's half marathon has raised more than ?900. You can visit and donate to her JustGiving page here.

If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to get involved, contact fundraising@app-network for more information. We would love to support you. To keep up to date and support our fundraisers click here.

Research update

APP supports all types of research into PP. You can find out more about some of the studies here. If you are a researcher and would like us to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning.

Pregnancy Planning Study
We are working with Elen Thomas, a PhD student at Cardiff University, to develop and test a new guide to support decision making during pregnancy and the postpartum period for women with bipolar or previous postpartum psychosis. We are looking for women who are considering pregnancy, planning a pregnancy or are currently pregnant to help us test the guide and provide us with their feedback on it. For more information, please visit ncmh.info/prep or email Elen: thomase45@cardiff.ac.uk.

Clinical & Genetic Studies

We work with researchers at Cardiff University to identify genes and other factors which are involved in increasing risk of PP or bipolar disorder - with the aim of understanding the causes of PP and developing better treatments. If you would like to help, email moodresearch@worc.ac.uk.

Accessibility & Acceptability of Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services to women and families from Black and Minority Ethnic groups

APP is involved in an NIHR study of perinatal mental health service use and pathways to care in women from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups compared to White British backgrounds. If you are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group and would like to help please get in touch.

Experience of PP in Punjabi mothers
If you have experienced PP and are from a Punjabi background, please get in touch. We are supporting a study by Clinical Psychology student Jasdeep Grewal examining Punjabi mothers'' experiences.

Qualitative study of recovery from PP
Cheryl Tatano Beck has recently published the results of her qualitative study looking at the process of recovery described by mothers who experienced PP. APP supported her research - her study analysed the stories of 8 women on our website. You can find out more about all the research studies APP supports here.

Dates for your diary

Giving Tuesday, 1st December: www.givingtuesday.org.uk.

International Volunteers Day, Saturday 5th December: www.un.org/en/observances/volunteer-day

APP North Wales virtual caf? group meet up, Monday 7th December: APP Facebook events page.

APP South Wales virtual caf? group meet up, Thursday 10th December: APP Facebook events page.

APP Lancashire and South Cumbria virtual caf? group meet up, Friday 18th December: APP Facebook events page.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org

1,475 readers...and counting

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Copyright ? 2020 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
PO Box 137
Swansea
SA3 9BT

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, International House, 12 Constance Street, London, E16 2DQ.

APP is a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. You can find out more here.

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World Mental Health Day: Mental Health for Everyone - Saturday 10th October 2020

It''s World Mental Health Day this Saturday and this year's theme is Mental Health for Everyone. We''d love you to help us raise awareness of the importance of maternal mental health. We''d like to show funders and governments how much we value maternal mental health charities and maternal mental health services.

To support WMHD you could share something of your story, explaining why you value maternal mental health charities or services, tagging in @ActiononPP, tag in any other service or charity that you wish, use the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay, plus tag in your MP or a funder. For example, you could tag:

Your local MP. Find their Twitter account names here.
Nadine Dorries, MP, @NadineDorries: Minister of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, MP, @DrRosena: Shadow Minister for Mental Health.
Luciana Berger, @lucianaberger: LibDem spokesperson for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care and new Chair of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.
Vaughan Gething, @vaughangething: Welsh Minister for Health.
Joe FitzPatrick, @JoeFitzSNP: Scotland Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing.
Robin Swann, @RobinSwannMoH: Northern Ireland Minister for Health.
Comic Relief: @comicrelief
The National Lottery Community Fund: @TNLComFund

You can also help amplify our calls for maternal mental health services by re-sharing the messages posted by @ActiononPP on our social media channels.

                                Do One Thing
                            

World Mental Health Day: Do One Thing for mental health today

The theme Mental Health for Everyone is especially important this year because of the huge impact the coronavirus pandemic has had, and continues to have, on perinatal mental health. This year we're joining in with MIND's campaign to Do One Thing for mental health. This could be for your own mental health; the mental health of a loved one; sharing a campaign message; donating to a mental health charity; or helping to raise awareness that mental health is a national priority. You could:

. Consider what you can do today for your own mental health: connect with a friend, take an online class, do something relaxing, reach out for support or to meet and talk to others, for example via APP''s peer support services.

. Join one of APP's virtual communities to support your wellbeing. In APP's Running, Walking & Cycling Club members share details of the activities they are planning and offer inspiration and support for keeping fit and active. APP's Book Club is a relaxed and friendly space open to all to chat about books on any topic. Join us for a virtual meet-up on Tuesday 3 November at 8pm where we'll be discussing Laura Dockrill's book 'What Have I Done?'

. Get in touch today to find out more about our regional online caf? groups or about joining a volunteer group (you could become an APP Regional Rep, Peer Support Volunteer, Storytelling Volunteer or Lived Experience speaker).

. Take time to check on family and friends. It's more important than ever to be kind to yourself and others. Grab a cup of tea, pick up the phone and ask 'how are you?'. See some ideas on our Facebook page.

. Share APP''s latest campaign messages:
Re-post our #MumWatch graphic - raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis so that everyone knows how to seek urgent help if a new mum seems strange. During this time of increased isolation for new mums it is vital that partners and friends know how to identify symptoms.

Share our urgent call for Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) in Wales and Northern Ireland, where there are none. Email app@app-network.org to get involved in our Wales campaign to support the development of an MBU and sign the petition by APP Rep, Oorlagh Quinn, for government commitment to an MBU in Northern Ireland.

Remind everyone on World Mental Health Day that postpartum psychosis (PP) is an illness affecting 140,000 women across the globe every year and that we won''t stop until all women and families affected by PP receive the care and support they need.

. Organise a fundraising event - it could be a Facebook Fundraiser, bake sale or sponsored run. Or you could set up a monthly donation as a gift to APP.

APP's forum and peer supporters are here to help if you're finding the day difficult: www.app-network.org/peer-support. You can access our web page about gaining care for postpartum psychosis during the coronavirus pandemic here.

Partners Support

PP is a hugely traumatic experience, not just for the women who develop it, but also for their partners and families. APP has an information guide for partners available here. Because of the stressors on partners during the coronavirus pandemic we have increased our partner support. Our Partners Coordinator, Simon, has set up a Facebook page to help partners find information, post a question, or simply share their story and chat with other partners who have lived experience.

Simon and his team of volunteers are available to talk or write to any partners of women who have had PP. It can be a big relief to talk to someone else who has lived through their partner experiencing PP, and Simon and the volunteers can share what helped them, or just be a friendly listening ear.

If you are a partner of someone with PP who''d appreciate talking to Simon or one of our other volunteers please don''t hesitate to contact him: simon@app-network.org.

Simon is working one day a week on our Partners project and is hoping to build more connections with MBUs to offer partners support when they need it, and to engage APP dads and partners in a fundraising and awareness-raising bike ride next year.

If you are a partner with lived experience, who is interested in volunteering for APP and who'd like to make a real difference, we'd really appreciate you getting in touch with Simon and talking through all the possibilities; volunteering any amount of time you can offer will help, it doesn't have to be a big commitment.

Sign up for online health professional training

In September, we delivered APP''s first virtual training for health professionals in Wales, which received excellent feedback:

"The training gave everyone an opportunity to talk and ask questions. It was relaxed but informative. Thank you so much!"

"Really good to hear personal stories; it made me reflect on what the service needs"

Please keep an eye on APP''s website and social media for announcements on dates for our next virtual workforce training in postpartum psychosis.

If you are planning to deliver online perinatal mental health training and would like APP to input or if you would like to enquire about APP''s online training, please contact Sally by email.

Supporting Black and Minority Ethnic women and families

There is still a long way to go in recognising maternal mental health problems, and ensuring good support and access to specialist perinatal mental health care for all who need it. Maternal deaths are not evenly spread across the population. Black women in the UK are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or up to six weeks after birth, compared to White women.

APP provides information and support for all women affected by postpartum psychosis. We share the stories of underrepresented voices and facilitate research to understand the experiences of Black and minority ethnic women and families.
You can help too:

Sign up to the APP newsletter for updates on research reports into the experiences of mums from BAME backgrounds who have been through an episode of PP.
Take part in campaigns including the maternal mental health campaign fivexmore and take a #fivexmore selfie (like the APP team in the photograph, above).
Follow these maternal mental health organisations: Maternal Mental Health Alliance (@MMHAlliance on Twitter), @themotherhoodgroup, @fivexmore, @prosperitys, @blackthrive, @acaciafamilysupport and Approachable Parenting (@5PillarsParent on Twitter).

If you''ve experienced PP and are from a Black or minority ethnic background please get in touch to share your experience with us. Find out more about raising awareness of PP or share your story at events, on our website and on social media. Send an email to Shaheda, our BAME Engagement Project Coordinator: shaheda@app-network.org.

Join our North Wales caf? group

Our new North Wales caf? group is holding monthly meet ups (via video call) and is there to support women who have experienced PP. To find out more, email northwales@app-network.

APP runs six other caf? groups - for London, Sussex, South Wales, Yorkshire & the north-east, Lancashire & Cumbria and Birmingham. Like the North Wales group, the meetings are being held online for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic and are open to women who live in the areas where we would normally meet. You can find the latest dates via our Facebook Events page here. We are continuing to seek funding to make these caf? groups available in even more regions.

Pamper Packs

As part of our awareness raising work and partnership project with Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust, our Peer Support Facilitator, Jocelyn, recently delivered some pamper packs to Ribblemere MBU in Chorley. These were organised by one of our regional volunteers, Gemma, who had received a generous donation from Wallgreen Boots Alliance and Book Trust. At this difficult time more than ever, we want women and families to know about APP and our information and peer support, as well as receiving a gift and supporting the staff with information and books for the ward.

Gemma would like to be able to support other units if she can with this initiative. If you work in an MBU and would like to talk to Gemma about the pamper packs please get in touch.

APP fundraisers

We have been overwhelmed by the continuing support of our fundraisers during the pandemic. We would like to thank everyone who has hosted an event in aid of APP, as well as those who have donated; your support is greatly appreciated.

Facebook Fundraisers: Each month, we welcome new Facebook fundraisers, many of whom have supported APP and raised awareness of postpartum psychosis by holding a birthday fundraiser. Thank you to all who have been involved. It has been lovely to celebrate your special day with you.

Active challenges and creative events: This summer, we have supported more active challenges as well as some new, creative events. A huge thank you to Gowri Bonney and Madeleine Bonney-Helliwell who produced handmade face masks, raising ?170. Such an amazing effort and lovely patterns too!

Pedalling for PP awareness: A huge thank you and congratulations to APP grandparents Simon and Judith Hill for their incredible 2,500 mile cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats (LEJOG) and back. Simon and Jude's efforts have been remarkable and they have already reached their fundraising target of ?2,500 with more time left to donate. Simon and Jude have engaged with radio stations en route to boost their campaign and raise more awareness of APP and postpartum psychosis. Join Simon and Jude by donating on their JustGiving page here, "Pedalling for PP awareness". You can also read more about their story here and keep up to date with Simon and Jude's LEJOG journey.

If you have any fundraising ideas or would like to get involved, contact fundraising@app-network for more information. We would love to support you. To keep up to date and support our fundraisers click here.

Research update

APP supports all types of research into PP. You can find out more about some of the studies here. If you are a researcher and would like us to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning.

Pregnancy and Birth Planning tools for those at risk of PP
We are working with Elen Thomas, a PhD student at Cardiff University, to develop and test a new tool to support decision making for women with Bipolar Disorder or previous postpartum psychosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. If you are currently pregnant and would like to test the new tool please get in touch.

Clinical & Genetic Studies

We work with researchers at Cardiff University to identify genes and other factors which are involved in increasing risk of PP or bipolar disorder - with the aim of improving our understanding of the causes of PP and eventually developing better treatments. The study involves an interview in person, or over the phone, and giving a blood sample or mouth swab. If you would like to help, email moodresearch@worc.ac.uk.

Accessibility & Acceptability of Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services to women and families from Black and Minority Ethnic groups

APP is also partnering on an NIHR study of perinatal mental health service use and pathways to care in women from BAME backgrounds compared to White British backgrounds. Research interviews for this study are now starting. If you identify as being from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group and would like to help with this study please get in touch: sally@app-network.org.

Experience of PP in Punjabi mothers
APP is supporting a study by Clinical Psychology student Jasdeep Grewal examining Punjabi mothers'' experiences of postpartum psychosis. Please email us if you would be willing to hear more about the study.

Dates for your diary

Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9th to 15th October: www.babyloss-awareness.org.

Global Peer Support Celebration Day, 15th October: www.inaops.org.

World Kindness Day, 13th November.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, 21st November.

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Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, International House, 12 Constance Street, London, E16 2DQ.

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APP News February 2020: Laura Dockrill WOW festival | Peer Support Video Call | MBUs for Wales & Northern Ireland | TV Films Plays Books | Research update and more...

Special event news: What Have I Done? Laura Dockrill in conversation

The London Palladium - Sunday 31 May 2020

A one-night-only event presented by WOW - Women of the World and Vintage Live. Laura will tell her own story of postpartum psychosis after the birth of her first child, featuring a performance by award winning poet Hollie NcNish and a very special guest yet to be announced.

The APP team will be there and we'd love lots of families with experience of PP, and perinatal health professionals to come and join us. Don't miss this chance to hear Laura break the silence on postpartum psychosis, and kickstart a national conversation about the illness.

Book tickets here: lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/laura-dockrill

APP newsletter subscribers can get an exclusive 10% discount on tickets, if they book before midnight Wednesday 4th March. Use the code APP10 when booking.

APP in 2020

APP's Director, Dr Jess Heron, explains APP's priorities for the coming year.

In 2020 we will grow our 6 main areas of work (below), particularly focussing on: 1) meeting the need for peer support for women & families, from the early stage of illness in Mother & Baby Units, through recovery and parenting, to navigating menopause and becoming a grandparent; 2) increasing support to partners, grandparents, and women from diverse backgrounds; and 3) building APP's research income, in order to continue supporting studies that are important to women and families, connecting researchers with families, and ensuring that study results are translated into real benefits for women, families and health professionals. We will also look for ways to translate the impact that APP has had in the UK to begin to influence the care of women with PP in other countries of the world.

Peer Support: Increase our regional APP caf? groups & NHS embedded support; recruit more BAME, partner & grandparent volunteers; develop training for NHS peer supporters in PP peer support.
Information: Develop resources on: Parenting after PP; Talking to children about PP; Going to a Mother & Baby Unit; Bereavement following PP; and an updated & easier to navigate website.
Health Professional Training: Continue to deliver Workforce & Lived Experience training, with a particular focus on Wales & Northern Ireland. Continue to input into GP, Psychiatrist, Midwife, Health Visitor training.
Awareness-raising: Support awareness raising, myth-busting films, books, theatre productions, TV, and other initiatives with national impact, whilst safeguarding and informing lived experience volunteers; support local/regional press around APP's local projects; support media volunteers to create a national conversation about PP.
Campaigning: for Mother & Baby Units for Wales & Northern Ireland and for sufficient beds in England & Scotland; for all frontline health professionals to be trained in PP; for access to specialist PP peer support throughout UK.
Research: To grow APP's research income allowing us to support recruitment for more studies, particularly into the causes of PP; outcomes for children; recovery & peer support; the management of women with bipolar disorder during pregnancy; the needs of BAME families; and the experience of PP internationally.

In December 2019, MBRRACE published its latest "Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths", showing again, that suicide is the leading cause of death for mothers in the year following birth. APP aims to reduce isolation, increase support, increase understanding of this illness, and reduce the number of deaths due to PP.

You can help by making a one-off or monthly donation to support our work here.

Peer Support via video call

News! APP is now able to offer one to one peer support over video call. The service is open to anyone who has experienced PP, whether you had PP many years ago, or you are newly recovering.

If you''ve been affected by postpartum psychosis and are interested, please get in touch: app@app-network.org

Caf? Groups

Our friendly caf? meet-up groups take place in London, Sussex, Newport, Yorkshire, Lancashire/South Cumbria and Birmingham. You can find the latest dates via our Facebook Events page here.

The groups are for anyone who has experienced postpartum psychosis - whether you are newly recovering or whether you experienced postpartum psychosis many years ago. You can bring a partner, friend, parent - or come along by yourself. If you need help to attend, just talk to our coordinators about the support we can offer.

If you'd like to attend a meet-up & share your experiences of postpartum psychosis, we'd love to hear from you - just send us a message to: app@app-network.org

You can find out more about APP Peer Support forum, email support, and other projects here.

Comic Relief Peer Support Project

We attended our final Comic Relief Learning Day and presented on the achievements of APP's 2.5 year Comic Relief peer support project. We are immensely grateful to Comic Relief for the support provided.

Over the course of the project we trained 65 volunteers in peer support. 97% rated the peer training as excellent and 3% good.

"I have found the whole thing therapeutic and I''m ready to support others in need of help. APP saved my life. I''m ready to give back and hopefully save more lives with the support of APP peer mentor staff."

We also recruited 48 more media volunteers and regional reps throughout the UK, who raise awareness, give lived experience talks and campaign to improve services in their regions. One volunteer explains:

"It has been life changing for me. I don''t feel isolated at all, if anything I feel proud to be part of this unique community of amazing, strong women and proud of everything we have been through."

We supported 1010 people online and 43 face to face. Over the course of the project 99% of service users felt more supported and 100% felt less isolated. 31% said they felt the service had saved their life.

"It has been amazing, transforming to find APP. Without it I don''t think I will have recovered as well, and actually to feel even positive about my experience of PP."

APP Fundraisers!

We are now set up on Facebook Fundraising! Between mid- December and mid-January Facebook fundraisers raised a fantastic ?1,200 for APP. We would like to say a huge thank you to Jocelyn, Kerry, Jodie, Jasmine, Teresa, Lena, Amie, Giles, Jess, and to everyone who donated to them.

Good Luck to:

Steven Vinter, who is running the Edinburgh Marathon for APP. Steven and Gemma have already raised ?1,000 by taking part in races and holding cake sales. Support Steven here.
Jason Sales, who is running the London Marathon on 26th April. You can follow Jason's training and donate here.
Jack and Abi, who are running the Liverpool Rock ''n'' Roll Marathon on 24th May in aid of APP. Support Jack and Abi here.

Thank you to:

Plymouth Soroptimists, who combined fun and fundraising, and raised ?1,414 at three events. Santander UK supported with matched funding, adding a further ?1,200 to the total. Jenny Jarvis, Plymouth Soroptimist President said: "Our members were delighted to support this really worthwhile charity and thoroughly enjoyed our fundraising race night, quiz night and barn dance." Soroptimist International is the world''s leading international women''s organisation. If you would like to find out more visit: https://sigbi.org
Park Lane Dental Practice (Colosseum Dental Services, Cowplain), who raised ?46.67 with the help of some delicious looking cakes!
Darryl McGrady, RCJ sports club staff, friends and family, who held a quiz and raised ?2,366 for APP in memory of their friend and colleague. Darryl said: "We would like to thank everyone who donated prizes, money, purchased raffle tickets and attended the quiz, especially the Quinn family and friends for their support. Orlaith is greatly missed by her friends and colleagues and it is only as a direct result of Orlaith's passing that many of us became aware of this illness. We hope the money raised will help raise awareness and help other individuals and families who are affected by postpartum psychosis."

>Fundraise for APP

Health Professional Training

We have been busy since Christmas, continuing to deliver Lived Experience talks and Workforce training in PP to health professionals across the UK. In January, we delivered the first of three workforce training sessions in Wales, which is a co-produced and co-facilitated training day delivered by: women with experience of PP; world leading academics; and specialist perinatal clinicians. 100% of the delegates have said they would recommend APP''s training.

Later this year we will be hosting the first PP workforce training, bookable by individuals (rather than commissioned by teams). Get in touch if you are a health professional interested in attending.

You can also book trained and supported lived experience speakers for your events.

Find out more about APP training here. Contact us by email or telephone on 020 3322 9900 to discuss your requirements.

We continue to work in partnership with the Institute of Health Visiting inputting lived experience into their Perinatal and Infant Mental Health champion training across the UK, with some great feedback from the health professionals on the courses:

"Hearing lived experience stories and providing hope are essential in recovery from postpartum psychosis. Incredible, thank-you for sharing your story."

In February, we were involved in co-delivering specially developed training to more than 100 GP trainees in the Northamptonshire area. APP Trustee, Clare Dolman, delivered Lived Experience training as part of the 5 day Royal College of Psychiatrists'' Perinatal training. We are incredibly grateful for these opportunities to input into health professional training.

MBUs for Wales & Northern Ireland

Wales MBU: we continue to work with NSPCC Wales, to campaign for better Perinatal Mental Health services and access to Mother & Baby Units in Wales, putting together case studies for media & social media, and supporting our Wales volunteers to attend events, give talks, and speak to influencers. Our Training Coordinator, Sally Wilson, was recently on BBC Wales Live discussing the urgent need for MBUs across Wales with Helen Rogers, Director of The Royal College of Midwives, Wales. Our Wales Volunteer, Barbara Cunningham, co-chaired the new All Wales Perinatal Mental Health Board which will inform the development of services.

In 2020 we plan to build our volunteers in Northern Ireland and Scotland to support campaigning for services that are appropriate for women and families affected by PP. If you live in Northern Ireland or Scotland and would like to help us campaign or offer peer support, please get in touch.

If you live in Ireland, an MBU petition has been developed by APP's Northern Ireland Regional Rep, Oorlagh Quinn. You can find out more about the petition and sign up here.

A Round up from Regional Projects

Lancashire & Cumbria project

We would like to hugely thank Linda Stokoe, who has been our Peer Support Facilitator at the Ribblemere MBU in Chorley since it opened in 2018. Linda leaves us to set up a new peer support project in the North West nearer to her home but will remain as a sessional worker supporting women and families on the project. We welcome Jocelyn who will take up the role of APP Peer Support Facilitator after working as one of our sessional staff on the project. In the first year of the project, 72 women have been supported in the MBU, 12 family members have been supported, and 22 women have been followed up in the community following discharge. If you'd like to find out more and get involved with this project, sharing your lived experience through peer support at the MBU and in the community, or attending events and meeting others, please get in touch: lancsandcumbria@app-network.org

South Wales Project

Our South Wales project is due to come to an end in March. We would like to thank Mind and Agenda for funding this wonderful opportunity to set up the first postpartum psychosis specialist peer support group in Wales. 75% of respondents said they had not met another person who had been affected by PP before attending the caf? groups, and 100% of respondents said they now feel less negative about their experience of PP.

We are looking for funding in order to continue the group. We'd like to thank Ines, our South Wales Co-ordinator, who has worked incredibly hard to make the caf? groups a success, Danielle and Barbara, the Assistant Coordinators. Thank you also to APP's Wales volunteers and Bev & Divya at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, who all helped to make the project possible.

"...this support group is super important as there is not one other like it dedicated to PP. So many of us women having dealt with PP are expected to live normal lives and almost put our experiences behind us. This group allows me to reminisce on the bad times but also reflect on how far I've come, in the safe non-judgemental environment of others which have gone through similar. I feel these meet ups do so much for my mental health as life is normally so fast paced, this session gives me the time to stop, look back and think and be proud of the person I've become throughout my experience."

Birmingham

Natalie, APP's Peer Support Facilitator in Birmingham, has now supported 36 women & families. A team of Birmingham volunteers has now been trained in peer support and the first Birmingham caf? meet-up was held just before Christmas. Peer Support in Birmingham is delivered by a partnership between APP, Acacia and Approachable Parenting.

Hannah, APP's National Coordinator, Nathalie, and Lauren Walsh, Trainee Clinical Psychologist working with APP, attended the Acacia conference in January at Aston Villa FC, "BAME Parents and Perinatal Mental Health Services", manning a stand, and delivering workshops. Lauren talked about her research into the needs of women with PP from BAME backgrounds, which is currently recruiting.

Alongside academics, clinicians, and lived experiences speakers, there was a performance of the powerful short play "No Bond So Strong", exploring the experience of two women affected by perinatal mental health challenges. You can find out more about the play, which will be touring in 2020/2021 by clicking here.

It was wonderful to hear from Nathalie about the fantastic work and impact to date of this pioneering partnership project. If you'd like to find out more, including dates for our APP caf? group or how to get involved, please get in touch: birmingham@app-network.org

Regional Reps

APP has over 70 Regional Reps throughout the UK, which volunteer to support awareness raising, co-production and service improvement in their local regions. Get in touch and join our volunteers' Facebook page for resources and to share ideas: hannah@app-network.org

TV, Films & Plays

The Arrival, by Bijan Sheibani

APP has been working with leading theatre director and playwright Bijan Sheibani on pieces which will raise awareness of postpartum psychosis and its complex impacts on relationships and family life. Bijan has spent time talking to women and partners about their experiences. A Film 4 short will be aired soon. Bijan's new play, which included a postpartum psychosis strand, has just finished a highly acclaimed run at The Bush in London. We will keep you informed about future dates.

"The Arrival is a powerful and dramatic depiction of the reunion of two half Iranian brothers in their 30's. Tom, the older brother was given up for adoption as a baby, so this reunion is very important to Tom who is curious to learn about his new found family. We are told that Tom's parents married after discovering the pregnancy, so their intention was to keep him. Sam hints at ongoing mental health issues surrounding their mother, which began with the birth of Tom. She also has nerve/spinal damage from a jump from ''high up'' during this period. The complex emotions surrounding it perhaps explain some of the family's reluctance to fully embrace the return of Tom into all their lives.

The stage is completely devoid of stage sets and props and the only actors are the two brothers. The effect of this is the audience's intense scrutiny of the brothers' words and actions; we focus on their mirrored movements, which play out almost like a ritualistic dance, expressing closeness, similarity and aversion; themes of belonging, isolation, inclusivity, rejection, nature, nurture and the preciousness of family, the latter delivered with a moving punch when Sam describes the vulnerability and preciousness of his own 5 year old son. This was a brilliantly acted, powerfully engaging, and moving play - painful if the themes touched similar unresolved issues in the audience." Review by PSJ

Irene's Ghost by Director Iain Cunningham

We continue to support screenings of award-winning Irene's Ghost film. Read more about Iain's work with APP here and find screenings here.

Media update

APP has been popping up all over the media!

Recent coverage included BBC Radio2's Jeremy Vine Show discussing the film "Irene's Ghost"; Duvet Days featuring author Laura Dockrill; BBC WM's Breakfast Show interviewing APP's Peer Support Facilitator Natalie Thompson and BBC World Service's Outlook with writer Jen Wight telling her story.

Television shows featuring PP included Channel 4's series Losing It - Our Mental Health Emergency, a moving documentary which followed a brave Nottingham family though admission and treatment for postpartum psychosis.

Press coverage ranged from The Guardian to Daily Mail, and Metro to The Stylist.

As ever, a huge thank you to our media volunteers for sharing their stories.

Books

If you would like to review books on postpartum psychosis for us, please get in touch!

Inferno: A Memoir by Catherine Cho

Published by Bloomsbury on 19 March 2020.

We are excited about the release of this book by Catherine Cho, described by Harper's Bazaar as "Crystalline. A brave, brilliant exploration of madness and motherhood". They describe Catherine as number 1 on the list of '10 women who will shape what you watch, see and read in 2020.'

Special event for the book launch: Catherine Cho in Conversation with Christie Watson on Wednesday 25th March 18:30-20:30 at Waterstones Tottenham Court Road, London.

Join Catherine Cho in conversation with the author of ''The Language of Kindness'', Christie Watson. They will be discussing Catherine''s first book; a powerful and moving memoir ''Inferno''. Book tickets here.

"Catherine Cho's "Inferno" manages to capture the darkness at the heart of this frightening mental illness. It is a gem of a memoir which, with raw honesty, captures the: loss; guilt; the power of love and the destructive might of madness. What sets this book apart is its philosophical depth and its unflinching analysis of heredity, of abuse, of cultural differences. Catherine's Korean grandmother warns her of female sacrifice: "May you never find love." Fortunately, as we know at APP, postpartum psychosis ends and love wins through. I'm sure that "Inferno" will be devoured by the large reservoir of APP's women members, and by all those who stood on the edge with them. There is huge solace to be had in the sharing of an experience so beautifully written." Reviewed by Dr Jess Heron, CEO, APP.

"I was hooked from the very start ... It is at heart a love story, but one in which unimaginable, wonderfully depicted, mental torture intrudes. In sharing this pain, and exploring its cultural and other causes, Catherine Cho does a great service to the cause of breaking down stigma surrounding mental ill health... A beautiful book" Alistair Campbell.

What have I done by Laura Dockrill

Published by Penguin, 7th May
Pre order here.

"Laura manages to get to the core of the experience of postpartum psychosis, capturing it in minute, harrowing detail. Her style is blunt, graphic, diary-like, unflinchingly confessional - at times so colloquial that we feel we know her, or we want to know her: for her bravery in writing this book, for her humanity, her sisterhood.

Laura describes the harsh realities, not the usual magazine depictions of traumatic childbirth; the confusion amongst health professionals; the stigma which paralyses families and friends who fear that babies will be taken away; the on-cost for partners; the assumption that madness must only happen to "others"; the failure to recognise postpartum psychosis as a real emergency whose downward spiral causes the most brutal of suicides; and yet the optimism and eventual healing once correct treatment is accessed.

Laura senses when the reader needs relief from her story. Her book, like her illness, is not linear. We find, as she does, much comfort in the glimpses of unconditional love from her partner, family and friends. We know from the outset that she is writing with that realism and immediacy of texting on her mobile phone, her baby beside her - both very much alive. We know, like all the brave volunteers at Action on Postpartum Psychosis, she has emerged with a greater understanding of self, a deeper compassion for those who suffer from mental illness, and a determination to combat stigma and ignorance by speaking out.

Ultimately, I hope this book will start a national conversation, encouraging others to speak out. I hope it will give women and their families confidence that the brain and body will heal. "What Have I Done?" should be mandatory reading for midwives and all those working in perinatal mental health and childbirth." Reviewed by Dr Jess Heron, CEO, APP.

Bonkers by Olivia Siegl

A Real Mum's Hilariously Honest Tales of Motherhood, Mayhem and Mental Health

"Olivia is a great storyteller. Her book is an honest (and sometimes laugh out loud) tale about motherhood, the birth of her two daughters and her subsequent battle with postpartum psychosis, PND and anxiety. I loved her chatty and captivating style of writing, I almost felt like it was a friend telling me the story.

Olivia was living in the mountains in France at the time and vividly regales walking through the snowy wilderness with her sleeping baby with a racing mind. I have so much respect for how brave she is for her sharing how she was feeling. Olivia says: "I'm going to break this vicious cycle, share my story and fully expose the demons that were once a part of my everyday life as a mum".

This is the kind of book I can imagine sharing with pregnant friends to help open up conversations about all aspects of motherhood, through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Thank you, Olivia for helping to breakdown the stigma and help to spread much-needed awareness about postpartum psychosis in new mums." Reviewed by Jessie Hunt, APP Social Media.

'Notes made while falling' by Jenn Ashworth

Goldsmiths press, October 2019.
This is a collection of essays described by 3ammagazine as "immediate, mesmerising, compassionate, and vital" based on Jenn's diaries and notebooks made in the year following the birth of her son.

''The Flight of Cornelia Blackwood'' by Susan Elliot

"A gripping read - intertwining the present-day life of Leah, her reflections on past events, her search for answers about her life and postpartum psychosis." Reviewed by Hannah at APP. More information

''Rattled'' by Jen S Wight

Parenthood brings sleepless nights, tears and tantrums, nappy changes from hell, and the firm belief that you're Cameron Diaz...wait, what?! New mum, Jen Wight, wasn't expecting that. ''Rattled'' tells the story of Jen''s Postpartum Psychosis and her journey to recovery. Purchase ''Rattled'' via Blackwells.

'Caldbeck' by Jenny Pagdin

This moving book of poetry describes Jenny's journey through illness and recovery from postpartum psychosis.

You can read more personal stories and poetry on APP's website here.

Research update

We know that the unknowns surrounding this illness are difficult for families and their health professionals. You can help us understand more about PP by supporting research: read about the studies APP support here. If you are a researcher, and would like us to support your research, please get in touch at an early stage in planning.

PP in Black and Minority Ethnic communities: information and support needs

APP is working with Lauren Walsh, a training Clinical Psychologist at Stafford University, to understand the experience of PP for women from BAME communities, and barriers to accessing the right information & support. The interview can be conducted in person, over Skype or telephone. If you identify as being from a BAME background and have experienced PP, please get in touch to help us with the work.

Women's perceptions about the relationship with their infant after Postpartum Psychosis

We are supporting a questionnaire study by student, Faith Beecham and Dr Andy Mayers at Bournemouth University to find out more about mum's perceptions about the impact of the experience of postpartum psychosis on the mother-baby bond. We hope this study will inform future work in this area. If you would be willing to answer some questions for this online survey, please click here.

Recovery & Relapse after Postpartum Psychosis

Gillian Smith, APP member and Lived Experience Researcher is doing an MA in Psychology at Chester University. She is examining factors that contribute to periods of relapse during recovery from postpartum psychosis. Gillian is looking for women who relapsed during their recovery from PP, which involved re-admission to hospital, or a recovery setback, that was treated in the community. Gillian would like to understand more about reasons for recovery setbacks and discuss the support and interventions that were most effective in recovery.
If you experienced relapse during your recovery period and would like to take part in the research, please get in touch. Taking part involves an interview over the telephone or via video call: contact Gillian Smith by email here.

Clinical & Genetic Studies

We work with researchers at Cardiff University to identify genes and other factors which are involved in increasing risk of PP or bipolar disorder - with the aim of improving our understanding of the causes of PP and eventually developing better treatments. The study involves an interview in person, or over the phone, and giving a blood sample or mouth swab. If you would like to help, email moodresearch@worc.ac.uk

Pregnancy and Birth Planning tools for those at risk of PP

We are working with Elen Thomas a PhD student at Cardiff University to develop and test a new tool to support decision making for women with Bipolar Disorder or previous Postpartum Psychosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. If you have experience of planning another pregnancy after PP, or have a bipolar disorder diagnosis and have had a baby / are planning pregnancy please get in touch, email: ThomasE45@cardiff.ac.uk

Accessibility & Acceptability of Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services to women and families from Black and Minority Ethnic groups

This NIHR funded study will investigate perinatal mental health service use differences in UK women from different ethnic groups. It will examine pathways to care in women from BAME backgrounds compared to White British backgrounds at 2 sites in London and Birmingham. APP is currently recruiting a Lived Experience Peer researcher to conduct qualitative interviews for the study. If you have experienced postnatal illness, and have an interest in research, please see the job advert here: www.app-network.org/jobs

Upcoming Conferences & Events

Catherine Cho in Conversation with Christie Watson

Wednesday 25 March 18:30-20:30 at Waterstones Tottenham Court Road, London. Book tickets here.

What Have I Done? Laura Dockrill in conversation

The London Palladium - Sunday 31 May 2020. Book tickets here.

Maternal Mental Health Matters week - 4-10 May 2020

Organised by the Perinatal MH Partnership (PMHP). Focus Group in London on 11th Feb and Nottingham on 1st March to help plan the week. Book tickets here.

The Trauma Summit, Belfast - 22 & 23 of June, and Young Hearts and Minds - 22 or 23 June

For professionals working in the field of trauma and trauma recovery, run by Action Trauma.

International Marce Society Conference, October 2020

The APP team will attend the International Marce Society Conference for Mother & Baby Mental Health in Iowa, United States, where we hope to talk to International Researchers, Clinicians and Policy Makers about APP's work in the UK and the needs of women & families who suffer from PP globally.

If you would like to advertise your event here, please get in touch: app@app-network.org

APP is a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance. You can find out more here.

Copyright ? 2020 Action on Postpartum Psychosis, All rights reserved.
www.app-network.org

Our mailing address is:
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
c/o Birmingham Mother & Baby Unit,
The Barberry National Centre for Mental Health,
25 Vincent Drive, Birmingham, B15 2FG

T: 020 33229900
E: app@app-network.org

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales (no. 1139925) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (no. 7466643). Registered address: Action on Postpartum Psychosis, c/o Baldwins, 10-11 St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT.

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Comic Relief Peer Support Project

APP Fundraisers!

Good Luck to:

Thank you to:

Health Professional Training

MBUs for Wales & Northern Ireland

A Round up from Regional Projects

Lancashire & Cumbria project

South Wales Project

Birmingham

Regional Reps

TV, Films & Plays

The Arrival, by Bijan Sheibani