Hearing the tragic news last week that a mother murdered her one year old and 10 week old children in SW London and the reports that one likely cause is that she was suffering from post-natal depression (or more likely puerperal psychosis in this case), it brought to mind how awful this condition is and how it can easily go undetected.

All too often friends and family take the 'pull yourself together' attitude. For a new mum experiencing terribly dark thoughts and feelings this can make her feel like she is alone and isolated, with no one to turn to.

A support website has been started by a Surrey mum who has been through the experience of PND. The website provides information and support for anyone with an interest in postnatal depression. They also run the Cedar House Support Group at the St John's Centre, Epsom Road, Merrow, Guildford.

If you or anyone you know needs some extra support in this area please give them this link and encourage them to tackle their feelings.

www.postnataldepression.com/home

Our thoughts go out to the family involved in the terrible tragedy last week.

In addition to the above here is a link to the Action on Postpartum Psychosis website.

www.app-network.org/what-is-pp/getting-help/

And if anyone knows of other support groups in Surrey for sufferers of PND perhaps you could let us know here in the chat forum; it may be of help to someone reading this and looking for support. Thank you.

Thank you for posting the Cedar House support Group website. Just to give an update we are now located at the Children's Centre in Eashing and please contact Liz Wise, Director of Counselling for the Cedar House Support Group, if you would like support or any information about the sessions.
We are looking for support in fundraising as the charity relies solely on private donations and is currently the only immediate support available for mums suffering from postnatal depression in our community. Please contact us if you can help us to help women and their families with this much needed support.

www.postnataldepression.com/home

The story that prompted my original post is back in the headlines as the mother has had her sentence passed. The Judge's words included calling it an "indescribably sad case" and that it was a result of "factors that were truly beyond her control". The story is a tragic example of PND in its worst manifestation.

There is help out there for those with this illness and we urge anyone experiencing it themselves or noticing the signs in others to seek help, especially as those with symptoms can often find it hard to seek out help.

I would like to flag again the work of the Cedar House Support Group in Surrey and the work of Liz Wise who runs PND groups in the county.

www.postnataldepression.com/