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Training course in Mental Health: New Technologies for the Prevention of Mental Disorders in the Perinatal Period

On October 14, a groundbreaking training course titled “New Technologies for the Prevention of Mental Disorders in the Perinatal Period” was launched. This initiative, coordinated by Ms. Ana Belén Naranjo, aims to equip professionals from the Andalusian Health Service with the skills to recognize and manage mental disorders that may affect mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The teaching team comprises prominent researchers from the e-Perinatal team, including Dr. Emma Motrico, Dr. Rosalba Company, Dr. Francisco Javier Nieto, and doctoral researcher Paula de Juan. Together, they will provide a comprehensive approach that combines scientific evidence with the latest health technologies.

Involvement of Health Professionals

The course includes participation from professionals dedicated to maternal and infant care, including midwives, pediatric and mental health nurses. These participants play a crucial role in the care of mothers and their babies, making their training essential for effectively addressing mental health during the perinatal period.

Course Content: A Practical and Scientific Approach

Over the course of nine interactive sessions, participants will explore the importance of mental health during the perinatal period, as well as the prevalence of mental disorders during these critical stages. They will receive training in prevention programs that incorporate new technologies, providing a more accessible and tailored approach to the current needs of mothers and their families.

One of the distinctive features of the course is the use of a practical case study: the e-perinatal study. Through this tool, professionals will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in real-life situations, facilitating a deeper understanding of the challenges and solutions in the field of mental health.

Methodology and Assessment Tools

The course also addresses the process of generating evidence-based content, as well as co-designing with stakeholders, which involves active participation from users in creating intervention programs. This is complemented by Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), an approach that seeks to integrate the perspectives of patients and the community in all phases of tool and program development.

Additionally, professionals will learn to use specific assessment tools to measure mental health, including depression and anxiety, as well as the well-being of mothers and fathers in the perinatal period. This knowledge is fundamental for implementing strategies that promote mental health and family well-being.

A Dynamic and Collaborative Learning Environment

The sessions are designed to be dynamic and enriching, fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences among professionals and the teaching team. This interaction will not only benefit participants in their professional development but also contribute to improving the care provided to mothers and babies.

This course represents a significant advancement in the training of health professionals in Andalusia, equipping them with the necessary tools to effectively address the challenges of mental health in the perinatal period. With the integration of new technologies and an evidence-based approach, participants are expected to be better prepared to support families during one of life’s most critical stages.

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New Free Webinars on Perinatal Mental Health!

At e-perinatal, we are thrilled to announce an exciting series of webinars dedicated to sharing the results of our research on perinatal mental health. We aim to connect directly with everyone interested in this field, from healthcare professionals to women and families who are or have been immersed in experiences related to motherhood. But that’s not all: we also want to hear your voices!

The main purpose of these sessions is not only to disseminate our work but also to exchange ideas and opinions. We firmly believe that science comes to life and gains relevance when it is enriched by the real experiences of those involved in the world of perinatal health. That’s why, beyond presenting the data from our research, we are eager to receive participants’ perspectives, allowing their experiences and reflections to enhance our study.

Why shouldn’t you miss it?

  • Completely free and accessible to everyone interested.
  • Online webinars via Teams, allowing you to connect from anywhere.
  • One-hour duration, ideal for obtaining valuable information quickly and effectively.
  • Certificate of attendance for participants.

First Webinar: “Perinatal Mental Health: The Role of Prevention and Digitalization”

Our first session will take place on November 6, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, focusing on two key areas in the perinatal field: prevention and digitalization. In this session, we will present the results of a systematic review we have conducted, addressing the latest advances and best practices in preventing mental health issues during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as the impact of technology in this process.

After the presentation, we will open a space for attendees to share their opinions and questions. We want to hear all voices! We greatly value active participation, as your perspective will help us make our research more inclusive and representative.

How to register?

Registration is simple and quick, and you’ll be able to join from the comfort of your home. If you’re interested in learning more about perinatal mental health and want to be part of a community that cares about the well-being of mothers and their families, this is the perfect place for you!

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, share, and be part of an initiative that aims to bring science closer to people and make people’s experiences influence science. We look forward to seeing you!

Date: November 6, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Platform: Teams
Registration: Coming soon on our website

Follow us on social media and stay updated on upcoming dates and topics for the next webinars!

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Focus Group on Perinatal Loss: A space for families to share their voice

On Thursday, September 26, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, an online focus group was held via Teams, with the participation of 8 mothers and 1 father who have experienced perinatal loss. This session is part of a study funded by the Fundación Banco Sabadell, integrated within the e-Perinatal project. The goal of the project is to develop a personalized online intervention for grieving families, in collaboration with healthcare professionals.

A Space to Address Real Needs

The primary objective of this meeting was to provide a platform for affected families to voice their needs and concerns, so they can be incorporated into an evidence-based intervention. This intervention will be implemented in Primary Care centers of the Andalusian Health Service and tailored to the sociocultural characteristics of the families. In the long term, the aim is for the resources developed to be accessible to those who experience this painful situation in the future.

Perinatal Loss: An Invisible Social Issue

Perinatal loss is a unique type of grief that deeply affects parental identity. In addition to the emotional impact, it has significant psychological and social consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and challenges in families’ physical and financial well-being. Despite these effects, there is insufficient support available to cope with this reality. Initiatives like the e-Perinatal project aim to shed light on this issue and provide an appropriate resource for affected families.

Session Coordination and Development

The session was led by Paula de Juan Iglesias, a predoctoral researcher and general health psychologist from the University of Seville, who presented and coordinated the focus group. Alongside her, Clara García Terol, midwife and head of the Maternal and Child Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, led the discussion, sharing her expertise in perinatal mental health and loss.

During the session, a brief presentation of the e-Perinatal project and the present collaborators was given, followed by an introduction to the support content on perinatal loss that is being developed for the app. The group discussion allowed participants to share their opinions on the design and proposed content, some of which were adapted from the Umamanita Association.

Key Takeaways from the Focus Group

Participants came from different regions of Andalusia, including Seville, Cádiz, and Jaén, with many belonging to the Matrioskas Association. They highlighted the importance of building support networks that helped them face their grief together. Some of the key conclusions included:

  • The need for continuous care with the same professionals.
  • The importance of respectful and inclusive language when addressing these situations.
  • The complexity of perinatal grief, which is not something to “get over” or forget but becomes a part of daily life.
  • The importance of providing information about perinatal loss from early pregnancy, empowering families to make informed decisions and face the situation with the necessary tools.
  • The impact of grief on the entire family system, highlighting the need for approaches that include partners and siblings, not just the pregnant mother.

This focus group provided a safe and respectful space for a diversity of experiences to be shared, reinforcing the importance of speaking openly about perinatal loss.

We are deeply grateful to the participants for their bravery in sharing their experiences and helping to raise awareness of a topic that, although often considered taboo, must not be avoided.

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The e-Perinatal Team Shines at the European Researchers’ Night: Science for All Ages

On September 27th, the Casa Museo de las Ciencias in Seville became a hub of curiosity and science during the European Researchers’ Night, an event organized by the University of Seville and held simultaneously in nearly 400 cities across Europe. The aim of the event was to bring science closer to the public in an engaging and interactive way, offering around 75 activities from various scientific fields.

One of the highlights was the e-Perinatal team, which presented the activity Being a Parent Today! from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., attracting families with three interactive proposals:

  1. The Myth Wheel about Pregnancy and Parenthood: Participants of all ages spun a wheel and had to debunk common myths about motherhood and fatherhood. From “beer will help you produce more breast milk” to “dad never needs help,” this activity encouraged both adults and children to challenge stereotypes. Those who answered correctly received fun prizes like t-shirts, notebooks, or backpacks.
  2. Tell Us About Your Experience!: Families were invited to share what motherhood, fatherhood, or family meant to them by writing on post-its and placing them on a colorful mural. This emotional and creative activity fostered connection among the attendees.
  3. How Do I Feel?: Mothers had the opportunity to assess their emotional well-being by completing the EPDS (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) questionnaires. The project’s psychologists interpreted the results and offered personalized guidance to participants.

In addition, the e-Perinatal team shared updates on the development of their mobile app, designed to support parents. While adults learned, children had fun discovering how their parents feel.

It was a night full of science, fun, and learning, leaving everyone eager for more.

See you next year!

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Reseachers from the e-Perinatal project teach a session on perinatal mental health to migrant women

Last Wednesday, September 18th, Paula De Juan and Rosalba Company, members of the e-Perinatal team, led a session on mental health during the perinatal period at the Claver Association in Seville. Both researchers are trained in perinatal mental health psychologists.

During the three-hour session, women shared personal experiences about how motherhood impacts their lives. The researchers provided evidence-based information to help the women manage difficult situations in their lives.

This association, located at the Arrupe Center, supports migrant women in their adaptation process, providing them with a safe environment to build community.

Specifically, the Migrant Women and Employment program of the Claver Association – Jesuit Migrant Service aims to welcome and empower migrant women. This program seeks to promote equality and non-discrimination through support and training for socio-labor integration, as well as strengthening self-support networks. Over the past few years, we have also been accompanying migrant mothers who face motherhood in this new context of arrival in Spain. For this reason, we are also incorporating the psychosocial perspective into the intervention, and we seek synergies with universities and interdisciplinary research teams.

The Migrant Women line of action includes the following key points:

• Reception, guidance, and empowerment of migrant women.

• Socio-labor guidance, advice, and defense of labor and immigration rights for migrant women.

• Support and training for socio-labor integration.

• Strengthening mutual support networks and care spaces with a gender and intercultural perspective.

• Strengthening the participation and leadership of migrant women.

• Strengthening networks for awareness-raising and advocacy in Domestic Work and Care. Household Employment Platform of Seville.

• Promoting equality and non-discrimination for migrant women.

For the e-Perinatal research team, it is essential to disseminate scientific knowledge to the general public in order to offer evidence-based support.

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