Birmingham founded project, Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), have been shortlisted from among hundreds of projects for a National Lottery Health Award for the fantastic support they offer mothers who suffer with Postpartum Psychosis.
Co- founder of the project, and Director of APP Dr Jessica Heron, who is a Senior Research Fellow in Perinatal Psychiatry within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham commented
“We're delighted to have reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery money has enabled us to give back to women and families who take part in research. The illness is devastating for new parents. The stigma that surrounds it and lack of information makes things even harder. We’ve been able to team up with women and families and help to meet some of the needs identified by our studies. It’s fantastic to receive national recognition for this work. It’s easy to vote, so we're hoping that people support us.”
Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental illness that begins in the days following childbirth and happens to around 1400 new mums each year in the UK. Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, elation and extreme confusion. It’s an emergency situation and new mothers usually need to be admitted, with their babies, to a Mother and Baby Unit. The illness is traumatic for women and families, but with the right support, women can make a full recovery.
Since launching their project in June 2012, APP has provided information and peer support to women and their families. Through collaboration with world-leading experts on PP, specialist health professionals, and those with experience of the condition, they have written a series of guides and online content. Their peer support forum, which has over 700 members, enables women and families to talk to others with personal experience, and women and partners can use a one-to-one email service to receive support from one of 20 volunteers who help to run the project.
You can vote online before the 29th July. The winners are decided by public vote and announced in a ceremony on BBC One in September.