Maternal Mental Health Matters
Since 2024, the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health (EIPMH) has been a partner in the European project Mind the Mum. Coordinated by Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, midwife and researcher at the Cyprus University of Technology, the project brings together psychologists from the same university, activists from the organisation Birth Forward, the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Gdańsk (Poland), and the Slovenian NGO Institut Umbilica. The consortium held its first in-person meeting in Slovenia in October 2024.
Following the completion of the data collection phase of the project, consortium partners met at the University of Gdańsk (Poland) from 12 to 15 June 2026 to launch the second phase of the research.
During the meeting, Ioanna Koliandri, perinatal psychologist at the Cyprus University of Technology, presented a comparative analysis of the quantitative findings from the Cypriot study, while Špela Slovša shared the results of the Slovenian data analysis. The findings revealed a significant prevalence of maternal distress during the perinatal period in both countries, revealing consistent findings across two very different European contexts.
At the University of Gdańsk, Magdalena Chrzan-Dętkos shared the insightful results of her qualitative analysis of the data collected in Cyprus. Paulina Pawlicka’s presentation encouraged a thoughtful discussion on the influence of historical context and the social dimension of advocacy for mothers’ rights in Poland.
Representing the EIPMH, Ibone Olza facilitated an experiential workshop on reflective practice. The meeting concluded with a group reflection session, which highlighted the importance of self-reflection as a key element in improving professional care and support for mothers.
The consortium meeting in Gdańsk was a wonderful opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen our collaboration, and advance the project. Two scientific publications presenting the project’s findings are now being finalised, and further updates on the project’s progress will be shared through our usual channels.
A particularly meaningful aspect of the project is that the consortium is made up entirely of women. During the first two years of the project, three consortium members became mothers. Thanks to the support and flexibility of the entire team, two of the three babies were able to accompany their mothers to the meeting in Gdańsk, reflecting the project’s commitment to creating a genuinely baby-friendly and supportive research environment.
https://eipmh.com/mind-the-mum/
#MindTheMum
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