Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is the UK charity dedicated to supporting women and families affected by Postpartum Psychosis.  APP is an innovative collaboration between women and families who have experienced Postpartum Psychosis, leading academic researchers and expert health professionals.  We provide specialist support and information to affected women and families.  We raise awareness of Postpartum Psychosis, campaign for improved services and conduct research to better understand the illness. We would like, one day, for all women and families to benefit from best-practice care and caring support through to full recovery.

Each year, 1-2 in every 1,000 new mums develop Postpartum Psychosis (PP). Hallucinations, delusions, mania, depression and odd and erratic behaviour develop within days of childbirth, often to women with no previous mental health problems. The condition can have a devastating impact, not only on the woman affected, but their partner and wider family.  Ignorance is widespread and many women with PP experience stigma, isolation, and a lifetime burden of guilt.  A shortage of Mother and Baby Units means that new mums may be separated from their new-borns when placed in General Adult Psychiatric Wards, with the burden of care falling to other members of the family or social services, compounding an already traumatic situation.  Suicide is a leading cause of death among new mothers, with PP responsible for the highest percentage of these. Each year, families are bereaved due to PP, when the reality is, PP is a treatable illness and full recovery is possible.