Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin) will struggle with her mental health following the birth of her first child Joseph as Hollyoaks explores postpartum psychosis in a new storyline.
The popular character, as viewers know, went into early labour earlier this week, with Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) rushing her to hospital, where she delivered her baby with Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) by her side.
After giving birth, Cleo haemorrhaged and required medical attention as she was taken into surgery.
Later, she was taken to see Joseph and, in emotional scenes, she didn’t believe that the baby was hers.
Joseph is required to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit due to being premature. Cleo, however, is given the green light to go home.
Upcoming scenes will see Cleo lose track of time and feel guilty as she struggles to produce milk. In a bid to support her girlfriend, Sienna moves into the McQueen residence.
The storyline will follow Cleo and her support system – which consists of Sienna, Dodger and her McQueen clan -as they convince her to seek help after picking up on her concerning behaviour.
Cleo will then be treated in a general psychiatric ward. She is unable to go to a Mother and Baby Unit due to Joseph being in the NICU.
In a bid to ensure this storyline is told as accurately as possible, Hollyoaks has worked with Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), whose peer support forum includes over 3,800 people with lived experience.
APP have reported that many mothers with postpartum psychosis do not experience any symptoms of depression at all, rather they experience extreme elation, spirituality, and quickly lose contact with reality.
The majority of women therefore are unable to seek help for themselves and others must obtain help for them. The charity also states that PP should always be treated as a medical emergency but that, with the right treatment, most women go on to make a full recovery.
‘It’s been a new challenge taking on the role of motherhood and the difficulties that being a new mum can bring, especially the strain it can have on your mental health,’ said actress Nadine Mulkerrin.
‘We had a consultation with APP [Action on Postpartum Psychosis] whilst filming this storyline, and it was helpful to hear other people’s experiences – my heart breaks for poor Cleo.’
Dr Jess Heron, CEO, Action on Postpartum Psychosis added: ‘Responsible portrayals of PP on popular TV shows such as Hollyoaks are invaluable.
‘With greater public awareness, partners, friends, family members and frontline health professionals will be more able to quickly spot the signs and seek specialist emergency help as soon as possible.
‘We’re grateful to Hollyoaks for playing a part in awareness raising and for their diligent approach to producing a sensitive and accurate storyline.’
For more information on Postpartum psychosis, visit APP’s website
Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4’s streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4.
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