Willemijn
Give it a go - perhaps something like Villamine.
I am 33 years old, and was born and raised in the Netherlands in a village very close to Amsterdam. I currently live in Colombo, Sri Lanka with my partner and two sons. Before this we have lived in England, New Zealand and South Africa.
Since a young age, I was keen to help people and thus thought it was a great idea to become a doctor. Instead I studied Biomedical & Health Sciences, followed by a Masters degree in International Public Health (MSc).
I have 10 years of professional experience in both the non-profit, academic and private sector, all related to health and international development. I currently work as an independent consultant offering services in:
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Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
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Research
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Project Management
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Maternal Mental Health Advocacy
Within the wider realm of development, I still take an interest in public health, specifically in maternal health, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and mental health. I am also passionate about gender equality and youth empowerment.
I am a proud member of the INTRAC Network. INTRAC is a non-profit organisation based in the UK, working to strengthen civil society globally. Some of my current assignments are in collaboration with INTRAC, and much - if not all - of my work is underpinned by their values and the experience I gathered while working as their Research and Programme Coordinator (2019-22).
“Worldwide, roughly one in five women (20%) suffer from some sort of maternal mental health condition during their pregnancy and/or in the first year after having had their baby.
I am one of them”.
Postpartum psychosis and me
In January 2021, I became mother of a baby boy. Quite quickly after giving birth I suffered a postpartum psychosis, a severe and acute onset mental illness. Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions, often with mania, depression or confusion and it is associated with both suicide and infanticide. Unlike what many people think, not all women who suffer a postpartum psychosis have a history of mental health issues. I was one of them, this terrible disease came ‘out of the blue’. We had no clue what was happening to me.
I was fortunate though to be diagnosed quickly and to be admitted to a specialized Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Nottingham where I received great care. Still, I had a second (relapse) psychosis and needed to be readmitted to the unit. I also suffered from depression later that year which is relatively common following a psychosis. It was an incredibly difficult time in my life and I had imagined things so differently, but I thankfully bounced back.
Exactly three year later I went on to have a second son and managed to stay psychosis free afterwards. A lot of time and attention went into preparing a preventative mental healthcare plan, which is experience I am happy to share.
Overall, I feel like my ‘old’ self again, although I rather refer to it as a 2.0 upgraded version of myself, given that suffering postpartum psychosis and becoming a mother are both life changing events. I have been very open about sharing my experience from the start and would like to continue doing so to break the stigma around (maternal) mental health issues and to raise awareness on postpartum psychosis in specific.
10.10.2021 - World Mental Health Day
My social media announcement about suffering a postpartum psychosis. The bravest but best post I ever put online as the support was overwhelming!
01.05.2022 - Ramadan FM
Radio appearance with postpartum psychosis peer Zebunisa Pathan, talking about the joys and struggles of motherhood.
18.04.2023 - Let's Unify as a Global PPP Community
Link to a blog in collaboration with the US charity PPP Awareness Day combing my public health expertise with lived experience of PPP.
24.05.2023 - 'We Didn't Know'
Link to the Darkest Light podcast episode called: 'We Didn't Know' — 3 Mothers, 3 Stories of Maternal Mental Health. Hosted by journalist Kanya D'Almeida who in her podcast focuses attention on birth stories and parenthood in Sri Lanka.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities.
Please reach out via mail, phone or on social media:
+94 71 479 4686