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Hannah and Jackie have recently started going to boxercise and also joined a running community through ibaFitness.  There's lots of 5k races but this one seems like a fun thing to do!  It's got to be fun - life is too short!!

APP is a charity which supports women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. PP is a severe mental illness which affects 1-2 in every 1000 births, about 1400 cases a year. Some women may be more at risk but PP can also strike any new Mum "out of the blue". Women can become extremely ill very quickly and have psychotic symptoms including hallucinations, delusions and a complete detachment from reality. It's a psychiatric emergency and usually requires hospital admission until symptoms are controlled. Women very rarely harm their babies but are more of a risk to themselves and can often have a long recovery ahead after coming home, including a period of coming to terms with being ill as well as learning how to be a Mum. What should be the happiest time as a family can be devastating and difficult to overcome.

When Sebastian was born in 2009, Hannah had postpartum psychosis, "out of the blue" like 50% of all cases.  PP is a truly awful and terrifying illness but the most important thing is that women can, and do, recover.  Hannah was lucky to eventually get a place in a Mother & Baby Unit, which meant she could bond with, and care for, her baby whilst getting the right care and support to overcome PP.  She returned home in early 2010 and went on to make a full recovery.  Whilst considered as high risk for a 2nd child, Reuben was born in 2013 and Hannah remained well, which is the happy ending to this story.

PP is getting more coverage recently, with an Eastender's storyline, the BBC documentary "My Baby, Psychosis & Me" and hopefully some much needed funding announced for specialist perinatal mental health services.  Please give generously to help APP support women and families who have been through PP.  This includes campaigning, providing information, resources and peer support - it's vital to get the right information and absolutely invaluable to hear from others that you can get better.  

Here's some more info about the Gung Ho:                                 

http://begung-ho.co.uk/events/gung-ho-leeds-14-may-2016/

Please visit the APP website to find out more about PP, and why maternal mental health really is Everyone's Business (Hannah is one of their Real Life Stories): 

http://everyonesbusiness.org.uk/

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.