I'm running the 2019 Royal Parks Half Marathon for the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
APP has helped me over the past 6 years in my recovery from Postpartum Psychosis, a severe but treatable mental illness experienced a few weeks after having a baby. APP is a small, award-winning charity, helping women and families affected by Postpartum Psychosis.
I have been training hard for race day - from barely being able to run up the stairs to 13.1 miles - it has been quite a feat! But knowing that I am raising awareness of Postpartum Psychosis and money for APP has kept me going.
I'd love you to come and cheer me on. The Royal Parks Half Marathon is on Sunday the 13th of October in central London. It takes in the capital’s world-famous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens: https://royalparkshalf.com/
About the illness Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum Psychosis affects around 1,400 new mums in the UK each year. Symptoms of this devastating illness begin in the days following childbirth and include hallucinations, delusions, elation or depression, and extreme confusion. It is an emergency and if you are worried about a new mum, they should go straight to A&E and see a 'Perinatal Psychiatrist'. New mothers usually need to be admitted, with their babies, to a Mother & Baby Unit. The illness is traumatic for women and their families, but with the right support, women can make a full recovery and go on to have a happy family life.
About APP
APP runs an award-winning peer support service, develops patient information, provides training to health professionals, facilitates research into the causes of PP and treatments, promotes awareness and campaigns for improved mental health services.
Your donation to APP will go a long way to help save the lives of new mums
If you are able to, please sponsor me as APP is an important cause that really does save lives and provides essential support to women and their families.
My story
My story was recorded for the Radio 4 documentary 'A Mother's Mind', aired during Women's Hour (3.7 million listeners), you can listen to it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001cbf. Louis Theroux recently filmed a documentary at the Mother and Baby Unit I stayed at with Archie: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00052dk
Some of the things I have done as a volunteer to help APP:
- I lead training workshops, I'm a media volunteer, a London regional rep and peer supporter to women recovering from PP.
- I regularly train doctors, midwives, paramedics, nurses, health visitors and psychiatrists through 'Expert by Experience' workshops.
- I ran the impactful social media campaign #FromMe2MBU, to tie in with the Louis Theroux BBC documentary. Women shared their powerful personal stories of recovery from the illness Postpartum Psychosis. The campaign was re-tweeted by Louis Theroux (2 million followers), Fern Britton and other celebrities. Read the powerful stories here: http://bit.ly/2JRC2FG
Testimonials:
"THANK YOU for being so inspirational and helpful" - Midwife, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital
"Hi Jessie, This probably comes a little out of the blue but I have been wanting to get in touch and say a very big thank you for all the support you gave me as I was recovering from PP... Your regular contacts gave me hope and helped me to feel like myself again" - PP survivor
"Had a brilliant and overwhelming meet up today with survivors of postpartum psychosis. Here they are, take a look at the amazing work they do to help raise awareness of this rare and unpublicised and heartbreaking illness" - Laura Dockrill
