A Hartlepool mum and mental health campaigner has been shortlisted for a prestigious award for her work helping others.

Stephanie Addison is a finalist in the prestigious Northern PoWEr Awards in recognition of her outstanding and sustained contribution to perinatal mental health.

For more than 13 years, she has dedicated herself to helping new mums who suffer mentally during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.

Stephanie, 43, used her experience of post-natal depression after the birth of her second daughter Olivia, now 18, to help hundreds of women through peer support and improving awareness across the North East and nationally.

Hartlepool mum of three Stephanie Addison has been nominated for her work in mental health.

placeholder image — Hartlepool mum of three Stephanie Addison has been nominated for her work in mental health.

She co-founded the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership, a national network that connects, supports and signposts women to appropriate services across the UK.

Stephanie also joint founder and coordinator of UK Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, marking their 10th anniversary this May.

She said of her own post natal depression: “It was quite severe for around 18 months.

"I didn’t realise there was a problem. Nobody spoke to me about it. There was very little in the way of support around me.

"I used my own lived experience to go on to support other women.”

She became the first person to deliver formally recognised perinatal peer support groups across the North East, helping to shape how services engage with women experiencing mental ill health during pregnancy and after birth.

Stephanie has now been named a finalist of the Disruptor For Good category in the Northern PoWEr Awards which recognises individuals who challenge the status quo, break down barriers and create positive, meaningful change.

The awards ceremony will take place in Manchester next month.

Stephanie, who also has a 25-year-old son and another daughter, 16, said: “It’s an honour to have been shortlisted, particularly in this category.

"The fact that it’s not just Hartlepool, it’s across the North East. It’s been incredible.”

Stephanie, who works in the NHS at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Foundation Trust, also continues to coordinate UK Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, to ensure women’s voices are heard.

It has received widespread backing from NHS trusts across the UK, major mental health organisations, and has received a special message of support from HRH The Princess of Wales.