The Philosophy of Birth. International Conference at Alcalá University, 27th-28th May 2019.
On October 9 2025, Zoe Galinsoga, aid worker, nurse, and member of the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health (IESMP), traveled to Slovenia to participate in the kick-off meeting of the project Mind the Mum, which involves collaboration with Cyprus University of Technology, the University of Gdańsk, Birth Forward (a Cypriot activist organization committed to improving postpartum care since 2014), and the Umbilica Institute.
“In Slovenia, I met an incredible team of inspiring women from diverse professions and backgrounds, brought together with enthusiasm. I take home inspiration and friendship—it is a privilege and deeply satisfying to be creating improvements for mothers from a scientific perspective and focusing on women, by women, and for women. I feel that we have the support and tools to create a powerful, inclusive, and ecosystemic model to support mothers,” Galinsoga shared.
This project, co-funded through the EU4H (European Union for Health) program, will span three years, aiming to deepen the understanding of postpartum mental health and create tools for identification and support.
The project’s goals include:
- Investigating the prevalence of perinatal issues in Cyprus and Slovenia, understanding contributing factors, and examining current methods for managing mental health challenges during this period of life.
- Amplifying the voices of women/mothers to ensure they are central agents in communicating their needs based on their “lived experiences,” actively participating in policy development, and raising awareness among professionals about incorporating mental health needs into healthcare.
- Understanding the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals, particularly mental health specialists during the perinatal period, and developing training and awareness campaigns
- Identifying necessary healthcare system reforms to better support mothers’ mental health during their perinatal and postpartum periods, advocating for policy changes, and promoting mental health inclusion in existing services.
- Enhancing perinatal mental health care and implementing systemic health reforms.
- Developing evidence-based programs to promote mental health prevention.
- Increasing healthcare staff’s knowledge, correcting misconceptions about perinatal mental health, and improving their ability to identify, support, and manage new mothers’ mental health needs.
- Encouraging public discussion and awareness about perinatal mental health.
The multidisciplinary project team will integrate academic knowledge with civil society expertise, effectively bridging theory and practice in designing and implementing project activities.
This initiative will result in far-reaching communication strategies to defend mothers’ rights, three scientific publications, two doctoral Thesis, and a training model for healthcare professionals working with mothers and pregnant women in Slovenia and Cyprus. This model can subsequently be applied in other countries.
The IESMP will play a key role in training professionals and providing advisory support throughout the project. Regular monthly meetings will be held to track progress and coordinate tasks assigned to each country.
We will keep you updated on the progress of this project, which we are thrilled to be part of.
#MindtheMum #EU4Health
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Participamos en un proyecto europeo que aborda la salud mental posparto de las mujeres
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