Mums and peer supporters at one of the café groups organised by APP
Until I accessed APP peer support services I hadn鈥檛 met or talked to anyone else who had had postpartum psychosis which made me feel very isolated. My start to motherhood was so different and the experience so far removed from anyone else I knew - it was brilliant to be able to talk to other women who had been through similar experiences鈥�
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is the national charity for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP). PP is a severe mental illness that begins suddenly following childbirth, affecting around 1-2 in every 1000 mothers in the UK.
APP offers vital information, peer support and practical help to families affected by this little known illness and works across the UK and beyond to raise awareness through campaigns and training. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported our 91热爆 Radio 4 appeal earlier this year, which was presented by APP ambassador and mum with lived experience of PP, author Laura Dockrill. As part of the broadcast, Laura movingly shared some of her own memories of experiencing PP, and the difference finding APP made to her recovery.
Our 91热爆 Radio 4 raised an incredible 拢18,977 (including gift aid and match funding from a generous supporter). This sum will make a real difference in helping us to support even more mothers and families affected by PP. Being diagnosed, or having a loved one diagnosed with a severe mental illness so soon after having a baby, can be traumatic for everyone involved and APP aims to be there for every family that needs us 鈥� whether that is by providing information, offering one-to-one peer support online or face to face, or through our friendly caf茅 groups.
Our appeal also helped us raise awareness and understanding of this illness. We were contacted by several people who had been personally affected by PP in the past, who were so pleased to hear of the work APP are doing.
To find out more about APP and our work please click