What can I do to become an advocate, and support and raise awareness in my area

[Nichole8687]

I would like to start a support group in my area to raise awareness, be an advocate anything that would get te word out there and help these women children and family's. Where do I start, and how would I find others in my area who have been affected in some way shape or form to help. I'm working on a career to help theses women but I feel the need to do more before more preventable tragedies happen. I suffered from PPP and hurt my two week old daughter, thank the Lord she's ok now at 4 years old. But my two week old at the time and 6 year old were taken from us. There with family but haven't seen them since; Do to the ignorance some of my family have to the illness. If anything good can come from this it would be for me to be able to educate and be an advocate for these women. Please any advice will be appreciated

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi Nichole8687,

I'm so sorry you went through such a horrific ordeal. You haven't seen your children since? That's terrible. It's fantastic you want to be an advocate and help others.

Are you in the UK? If so you can join the Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) network. There are different ways of being involved with APP, including becoming a regional rep which involves helping to raise awareness of PP, campaigning, fundraising and offering support in your area. You can join the network here - app-network.org/join/

You can check out more on the APP website - app-network.org

If you're not in the UK I'm sure others on here will be able to advise.

Wishing you all the very best x

[Nichole8687 in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

J-BB-55 No I live in the U.S in California, where this illness is not very known. Thank you so much for your help.

[Nichole8687 in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

Also thank you for supporting women with PP we need more people out there like you

[Mungomia]

Hi there

It's so good to hear that you want to reach out and help others.

I had PP 27 years ago and I am a firm believer that if you can help others who are going through or who have gone through a similar experience then it can help you to come to terms with the experience yourself & as you say it can also help you feel even in the smallest way that something good has come out of it. I applaud your courage in sharing your story.

I'm not sure where you are based but I hope that wherever you are you can achieve what you are hoping to do. Maybe there is an association for postnatal mental illness in your area that you could contact?

Best wishes x

[Nichole8687 in reply to Mungomia]

I will defanently look into Postnatal mental illness here in the U.S. Thank you for your help and for supporting women as yourself with PP

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi Nichole

I just wanted to reiterate what the others had said. I was really sorry to hear your story, it sounds horrific what you have been through, and I am so sorry you are separated from your children.

It is great that you want to help others. Being involved with APP has also helped me so much with my ongoing recovery, as Mungomia says, please don't hesitate to join and get in touch with us if you are based in the UK. If not I hope you can find some other organisation in your country.

[Nichole8687 in reply to Ellie_at_APP]

Thank you for your support!

[Lilly53 Volunteer]

Hi I think you say above youre in the US so you might like to read more about the organisation postpartumprogess, I found the info&advice on their website useful before I found APP in UK. Best wishes for everything xx

[Kat_at_APP Volunteer]

Yeah was also going to suggest Postpartum Progress. One thing they do which might be a nice way to start is join one of their "Climb Out of the Darkness" fundraising / awareness raising walks? There are usually a couple in CA, and they take place on the longest day of the year (end of June). Good luck!

[roz2203]

Hi Nichole8687,

I live in the US as well. I think what you are doing is brave, and courageous. I would love to help in anyway I can. I went through PPP in 2008 with my oldest daughter and again in 2012 with my youngest daughter. Few people understand the illness we went through. It's not often that I share my experiences with people because I never know what kind of reaction I will get. I'm learning it's not about me, but about helping people that going through PPP and letting them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we are living witnesses to that. I would love to be a part of what you are doing and would like to help in anyway I can.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello Nichole8687

I hope you have felt supported by the replies here. I'm so sorry your family don't really understand the effects of PP and the impact it can have on our thoughts. I think it will help with the healing process for you to set up a group for women who are hiding in the shadows for fear of being judged.

Having this forum gives us all a voice, although anonymous, so that other mums can be comforted by the realisation that they are not alone. PP mums are an exclusive band of mothers who have great courage to overcome such an illness, sometimes not once but twice as in my case.

Wishing you all the best for the future.

[JenniferM]

Hello!

I too have experienced postpartum psychosis and am in the USA. I would encourage you to go to Postpartum Support International's (PSI) website at postpartum.net to see what resources are available in your area.

I also would love to connect with you as well. We had the first postpartum psychosis support group at the PSI conference in June. The core group is hoping to better address postpartum psychosis in the USA. If you are interested in getting connected or learning more about becoming an advocate in this area, please contact me through my website at jennifermoyer.com or email me at [e-mail]

Thank you for your willingness to help others.

Jennifer