We are running the Barnsley 10K to raise awareness of this medical emergency and devastating illness which is seldom spoken about or understood. Everyone, the public and healthcare professionals, need to know more about postpartum psychosis (PP). PP affects 1 to 2 in every 1,000 births, which is around 1,400 new mothers in the UK every year.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is the national charity for women and families affected by PP – the only charity in the UK, and one of the few in the world, dedicated to this illness. APP brings together families with experience, expert clinicians and world- leading PP academics. APP delivers an award-winning national peer support service; develops information; campaigns for better services; trains health professionals; works to increase public understanding and helps facilitate research.

Many people have never heard of PP until they, or a loved one is affected by it. Symptoms of PP include hallucinations, delusions, mania, depression and unusual behaviour and onset within days of childbirth, often to women with no previous mental health history. With treatment and support, women do recover, but it can take time and women remain at risk of relapse of severe mental illness. Symptoms of PP can be frightening and escalate rapidly. It must be managed as a medical emergency for the safety of both mother and baby. Women with PP are also at high risk of suicide and suicidal ideation. In the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death to new mothers in the postnatal year.

APP’s research shows PP severely impacts a woman’s self-esteem, experience of motherhood, social support, working life, partner relationships, causing long-term trauma and often financial or legal issues. PP is also traumatic for the whole family - they too need support, information and signposting. APP’s research with partners shows the experience can be bewildering and lonely, especially in the acute phase when a mother normally needs to be admitted to hospital. Partners are left shocked by the sudden onset of a rarely discussed condition, having to manage concern for their loved one’s care, finances and older sibling care, looking after a newborn if the mother is being cared for in a general psychiatric ward or separation from their partner and baby if care is received in a Mother and Baby Unit. Grandparents find themselves needing to support their children/in-laws/grandchildren whilst dealing with the stress of their daughter or daughter-in-law’s illness.

APP provides life changing, life saving support for women and their families for as long as they need it. Your donation could help them be there for even more families and ensure that no mother or family has to face this condition alone.

https://www.app-network.org/postpartum-psychosis/

Action on Postpartum Psychosis is a Charity Registered in England and Wales no. 1139925 and a Company Limited by Guarantee no. 7466643.

Registered address: International House, 12 Constance Street, London, E16 2DQ. Postal address: PO Box 137 Swansea, SA3 9BT.