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PNI-UK

PeriNatal Illness-UK

Patron Fern Britton

PNI-UK have kindly given us permission to publish this information about post natal illness and the symptoms. If you need support and advice please contact them directly where they will be able to help you and answer any questions you might have.

PNI-UK (formerly known as PNi-SHA) was set up in 2003 to support women and their families affected by Perinatal Illness (often known as Postnatal Illness/Depression). It was granted charitable status in September 2004.

Perinatal Illness

Perinatal Illness covers a wide spectrum of symptoms which range from the common and temporary "Baby Blues", through depression and anxiety, to full blown Puerperal Psychosis, a very serious yet completely treatable condition which can occur from within hours to months of the birth of a baby.

Perinatal Illness is the largest single cause of Maternal Death (in the first year of the baby's life), through suicide, in the UK (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health, 2000-2002). The impact of PNI on the babies and children involved can be long-lasting and even fatal.

The Clinical Governing Bodies, including The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and The Royal College of Psychiatrists agree that between 12% to 15% of new mothers suffer from moderate to severe Postnatal Depression. A recent survey carried out by ITV for the Tonight programme showed 40% of mothers suffer some form of Perinatal Illness.

There has also been recent publicity about the severe psychological effects the illness can cause to new fathers.

These are frightening statistics, but the illness is, tragically, a hidden one. Because society deems the birth of a baby as one of the best times in a woman’s life, it is all the harder for a woman to discuss suffering from PNI. Women therefore struggle with this illness in silence, the extent of the need is unrecognised, and as a result the national service provision is very largely inadequate, (and non-existent in some areas).

There are only 14 Mother and Baby Units in the country. Only 7 of these are run to the minimum standards required by the Faculty of Perinatalists, (a sub-group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists). Many of the others are merely side wards on general psychiatric wards, without specialist staff, separate facilities, or security arrangements; - making them completely inappropriate for a mother with a young baby.

The cause of Perinatal Illness is unclear but it is always frightening; isolating; and debilitating. Untreated, it can have devastating effects on the woman; her baby; partner; other children; and the rest of the family.

Such a widespread illness clearly must have a far-reaching impact on the national economy from lost working days, missed school, pressure on GP services, and significant costs to the acute and long-term mental health services.

Early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment and support are far less costly, in both human and financial terms, and have an extremely high success rate.

PNI-UK Services

At present, PNI-UK offers one-to-one and group support via a website; telephone helpline; home visits; and a single, local, weekly individual and group therapy session/support group.

The website is receiving 3500 to 4000 visits a month from up to 200,000 people from across the British Isles, although it only went live in March 2005 and is still under development.

The website offers a breadth of clinical and practical information and articles which can be downloaded and used to assist in every day life, or in discussions with health care professionals. The site also hosts and moderates an "open forum" which allows women to express their feelings and obtain mutual moral support at any hour of the day or night.

PNI-UK is currently the only PNI charity in the UK offering an out-of-hours specialist emergency telephone helpline.

The support group based in Ashbourne in Derbyshire presently has enquiries from desperate families from as far away as Manchester, Birmingham, & Hull.

PNI-UK offers support for the entire family. Babies, older children and partners can all suffer when a mother is ill, especially when the illness is a psychological and emotional one. The whole family will be under tremendous stress and may find it difficult to cope.

PNI-UK also provides training for health care and other professionals to boost early diagnosis and effective treatment regimes, and to help inform service providers such as the Police and Social Workers about the illness.

PNI-UK the Organisation

Founded and run by professional women and men, many of whom have suffered from the illness, PNI-UK currently relies on grants and donations to provide its services. In the longer term, the charity aims to provide services for the NHS via Service Led Agreements. To facilitate this, the Charity's Trustees and Organising Committee are developing the existing services to allow PNI-UK to cope with the increasing demand that is already apparent following recent publicity, including the joint campaign between the Daily Mirror and PNI-UK to improve the services available within the NHS.

Patron

Fern Britton, the well-known television presenter of "This Morning", is Patron of the charity. Plans for PNI-UK's formal national launch include a "National Perinatal Illness Awareness Day" backed by a major daytime television programme to raise awareness of this dreadful condition, together with articles in several national newspapers and women's magazines.

Anyone concerned that they, or someone they know, may be suffering from Postnatal Illness, is urged to speak to their GP and to contact PNI-UK on 01335 347599, or visit the website www.pni-uk.com.

Anyone interested in making a donation should contact PNI-UK via the website or by writing to: PNI-UK, Post Box 7066, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 9AG.