…be no longer referred to as ‘a phenomenon’; an extraordinary, unexplained event that defies explanation?
…be understood? It’s not rare, it can happen to anyone, from any background, any educational level, often out of the blue. Most fully recover & go on to have a regular family life.
…be free from damaging myths & stigma? It doesn't turn women into murderers. It doesn't make us bad mothers. Women with postpartum psychosis rarely harm themselves or their babies.
…be identified early & correctly? Postpartum psychosis is an illness in its own right & has its own challenges & needs. It’s different from postnatal depression.
…be out in the open? When will we be free to discuss it anywhere, at work, at the school gates, without feeling any shame or judgement? When will it be discussed in families & not hidden throughout generations?
…be discussed in antenatal classes? Knowing that such an illness exists & it has a name would have immense impact. Detection would be earlier, treatment would start sooner, fear would be reduced & recovery far smoother.
..be humanised? When will women be referred to as ‘women’ and not ‘cases’? We are not damaged, weird or objects of fascination.
…be represented genuinely in the media? When will articles give a balanced & real view, instead of the constant morbid fascination of the minority, darker experiences?
...be treated correctly? When will pathways into care be a quick & smooth process with health professionals knowing the correct care required, where it is available & how to provide it? When will places in Mother & Baby Units be available to all women with PP to ensure that mothers are not placed in general psychiatric wards & separated from their babies?
...be prevented? When will all pregnant women be screened to find if they’re high risk? When will tests be available, if ever, for all pregnant women to discover if they’re susceptible & precautions can be taken?
…be taken seriously? When will more funding be provided for research & collecting statistics & information to give a clear, full picture & answer so many of the current ‘unknowns’. When will specialist perinatal mental health teams be provided in every area? When will more Mother & Baby Units be opened, rather than closed?
When?