Around 1 in 5 women will experience a mental health problem either during pregnancy or after giving birth. It can be really difficult to open up about a mental health problem at this point in life - a new mother might feel pressure to be happy, or worry that others may not think she's able to look after her child. Read these stories to hear personal perspectives about perinatal mental illness and the misconceptions that people have about it. 

It is time to talk about postpartum psychosis

June 25, 2015

Psychosis. What sort of images come into your mind when you think about that word?Naomi's blog My guess is that you didn’t immediately think of a new mum with a tiny baby. Postpartum Psychosis happened to me, and happens to around 1400 new mums every year in the UK. When my first baby was just ten days old I needed to be admitted to psychiatric hospital.

A father and daughter speak openly: 'We make time more for each other now'

November 2, 2014

From Nigel, father to Annie Annie & Nigel

Writing this through tears and so many feelings, one thing that never got away was my love for my daughter.

She needed help, from me and other people

She needed help, from me and other people. My view from day one was that she was ill, not mentally ill.

Post natal depression isn't a weakness - it's an illness, experienced by normal people

June 26, 2014

I'm Vicky, I'm 28, I have a gorgeous seven month old son, a loving partner, a fluffy pet cat, a good job, a nice house, and post natal depression. Vicky To everyone looking in, it probably looks like I'm ecstatically happy. Bar my GP, my partner, and my most understanding friends, I haven't told anyone. Not my friends, not my family, not my colleagues, no one.

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