This project focus on improving Perinatal Mental Health (PMH), mainly in two European countries where little systematic support and thus high need has been identified, namely Cyprus and Slovenia, while taking lessons and involving experts from other European countries where similar work has been done, specifically Poland and Spain. We consider addressing mother’s PMH support crucial for several reasons, pertaining to maternal and infant well-being and longer-term outcomes, impact on family and the community, economy and productivity (increased healthcare costs, difficulty returning to work). Finally, and perhaps most importantly, by stimulating discourse and mainstreaming support programs PMH, we seek to reduce stigma around PMH and Mental Health more broadly, encouraging individuals to actively safeguard their mental health and also seek help when needed. This can also be approached a fundamental human rights issue, as failure to provide adequate care for perinatal mental health issues can be seen as a rights violation, and can disproportionately impact disadvantaged populations such as minorities, who are more likely to face risk factors such as socioeconomic burden, limited access to healthcare system, precarious living conditions, and often racist attitudes.

Through comprehensive quantitative and qualitative research to understand the needs and priorities of mothers regarding the PMH, and through building a multidisciplinary alliance involving both experts, health professionals, academics, and grassroots parents themselves, we will seek to synthesize, contextualize, and pilot a prevention program/tool in the two countries of reference (Cyprus and Slovenia). This intervention will subsequently be evaluated and advocated, along with advocacy for mainstreaming PMH through health policy and health service delivery (e.g. through systematic screening, training of midwives, improving early detection and referral pathways), and a public awareness and sensitization campaign. We are hoping that this will add to our understanding and to our toolbox for good practices that can ultimately become sustainable, and available for contextualization and replication elsewhere.