Maternal Mental Health Programme developed by the University of Coimbra to be implemented in the National Health Service

The psychological intervention programme ‘Be a Mom’, developed by a UC team to prevent postpartum depression (PPD) and promote maternal mental health, will be integrated into the Portuguese public health service (SNS).

In a rigorous clinical trial involving over 1,500 women in Portugal, ‘Be a Mom’ was shown to significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in the postpartum period.

"It is a completely self-guided programme, so it can be done at one's own pace. It includes a set of tools to help women cope with the challenges of the postpartum period and enjoy this time of life more,' explains Maria Cristina Canavarro, a researcher at the Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioural Interventions (CINEICC) at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra (FPCEUC)”. Canavarro developed this psychological intervention together with Ana Fonseca, also a researcher at CINEICC and a professor at FPCEUC.

The integration of 'Be a Mom' into the SNS is the outcome of a strategic partnership involving the National Coordination of Mental Health Policies, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and the University of Coimbra, with support from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. It aims to tackle the lack of structured and accessible solutions for promoting and preventing maternal mental health.

The implementation of 'Be a Mom' in the SNS is an example that the Rector of Coimbra University believes should be followed. “This is the mission of the University of Coimbra: to be ever more innovative and to place the knowledge it produces at the service of society.”Amílcar Falcão emphasises that 'Be a Mom' is a rewarding project for the UC, as it aligns with the institution's values, particularly those of inclusion and human dignity."

According to the Minister of Health, “'Be a Mom' plays a crucial role in a 'very important and often forgotten dimension, which is prevention”. Ana Paula Martins stressed that "a large part of antenatal and postnatal depression is preventable", adding that this requires "a support network so that women and their families don't feel alone".

The signing ceremony of the Memoranda of Understanding for the implementation of 'Be a Mom' in the SNS took place in the UC Senate Room.

The collaboration formalises the commitment of the organisations involved to effectively address the needs of women in the postpartum period by promoting preventive mental health interventions that contribute to the well-being of mothers and families

More information about Be a Mom is available here.