Category: News

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.

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!

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!

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.

Researchers from the University of Seville, Dr. Emma Motrico and predoctoral researcher Paula de Juan, and researcher Dr. Stephanie Carretero from Universidad Loyola moderated two meetings with professionals involved in assisting women during the perinatal period on November 15, 2023 and February 13, 2024. One of these focus groups (FG) took place in a room provided by the Universidad Loyola (Seville Campus) and the other group was via online.

The main objective of these GF groups was to obtain feedback on the preliminary version of the e-Perinatal app from professionals involved in the emotional or physical care of women during the perinatal period. Professional experience in healthcare practice is a key point of view that will help the research group to improve the content and design of the app.

The organization of these groups coincided with the celebration of the Conference on the promotion of perinatal mental health in pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium care in Andalusia, which was held at Universidad Loyola in collaboration with the Andalusian Association of Midwives. As a result, many professionals who attended the groups took advantage of the training.

During the course of the sessions, the researchers began by welcoming the professionals and presenting the project.

Afterwards, they were presented with some screenshots as an example of what they would find once in the app. In addition, they were able to review some examples of content that would appear in the app in different formats: text, podcast, video and infographics.

After presenting the content, they filled out a survey asking specific questions related to the design and content presented. These same questions were then discussed in greater depth during the focus group. The purpose of this analysis was to gain in-depth knowledge of the opinions of the professionals. The group discussion began, in which the participants could express their impressions on the design and content of the app based on their knowledge and training as professionals dedicated to caring for the perinatal population.

 

The groups of professionals agreed on the need to reach users through brief content and to provide reliable external resources for further study. The importance of remembering contact with professionals, encouraging them to sign up for face-to-face support resources, which are promoted by the application to combat the feeling of loneliness and to make the experience more complete with the forum.

These professionals recommended the inclusion of images representative of a diversity of family models and women’s profiles. They pointed out the importance of including in the initial assessment or app questionnaires and indicators to detect gender-based violence. They also pointed out the importance of giving strength and voice to community resources and involving professionals who care for women in the use of the app to monitor the emotional state of women.

Finally, they concluded that the e-perinatal app gives great strength to community resources and promotes emotional support, a role that midwives claim should be integrated into the routine monitoring of women in this period.

Researchers of the e-perinatal project have conducted Focus Groups (hereinafter FG) with pregnant women and mothers on October 24, 2023 and February 21, 2024. These sessions were led by project researchers Dr. Stephanie Carretero and predoctoral researcher Paula de Juan. The research team provided staff to care for the mothers’ children while they attended the sessions.

The main purpose of these groups was to know the opinion of pregnant and postpartum women (up to 1 year after delivery) about the design and content of the mobile application e-Perinatal, whose aim is the universal prevention of perinatal mental disorders. Their experiences as women who are living this stage is very valuable, as it can contribute to design an optimal mobile application for future users to benefit from it.

The session lasted about an hour and a half and took place in the meditation room of Universidad Loyola (Seville Campus).

During the course of the sessions, the researchers began by welcoming the mothers and their babies and introducing the project. Afterwards, they were presented with some screenshots as an example of what they would find once in the app. In addition, they were able to review some examples of content that would appear in the app in different formats: text, podcast, video and infographics.

After being presented with this content, they filled out a survey asking specific questions related to the design and content on display. These same questions were then deepened during the focus group. The purpose of this analysis was to gain in-depth knowledge of the opinions of the mothers and pregnant women. The group discussion began, in which the participants could express their impressions about the design and content of the app, based on their experiences as women during the perinatal period.

The session was a scenario in which the reality of work-life balance in women’s daily lives could be seen. A safe space was created between women who had never met before, in which they shared their opinions and needs based on their experiences as mothers-to-be or new mothers, with the aim of improving the app.

The pregnant women and mothers gave feedback throughout the session on several strengths they consider the e-perinatal app to have. They highlighted that the app is evidence-based and coordinated with public health services.

They also commented that the app promotes co-parenting by including suggested interventions for couples so it does not burden the pregnant mother with the burden of parenting. They highlighted app’s accompaniment after childbirth. Mothers commented that from that moment on they feel abandoned or less supported by health services. They stressed the importance of mood assessment, because they themselves are not able to identify that they are not well because they focus too much on the baby and their self-care takes a back seat.

Pregnant women and mothers valued the forum very positively, since they have the opportunity to share or ask questions to other women and create a community. In addition, the consultation channel with experts in perinatal mental health was also very positively valued.

The e-perinatal team thanked them very much for their participation and rewarded them for their collaboration in the study by presenting them with an Amazon check valued at 28 euros.

Universidad Loyola, in collaboration with the Asociación Andaluza de Matronas, hosted a significant event focusing on perinatal mental health in Andalusia. The e-Perinatal project-led event drew over a hundred professionals, discussing advancements in mental health research and practices during pregnancy and postpartum, including the development of a supportive app for new parents.

Over a hundred perinatal health care professionals, especially midwives, attended a training session on November 15 and 17 at Universidad Loyola to bring existing research on mental health in this field closer to professionals.

This activity fulfills the mission of promoting the continuous training of midwives, bringing research closer to this area, and promoting spaces for collaboration and discussion with academic experts on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, and more specifically, in this case, on mental health associated with this field.

The event is organized by the e-Perinatal project of  Universidad Loyola, dedicated to the prevention of mental health disorders associated with pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Researchers at Universidad Loyola are developing a personalized app for mothers and their partners. This is a pioneering study in analyzing how to prevent depression in parents or partners and the effectiveness of such interventions in babies, bringing this knowledge to professionals and society.

The conference featured experts in this field, such as Rafael Arcángel Caparrós, a midwife and professor at the Universidad de Granada, who reflected on the prevalence and clinical course of perinatal mental health problems. The consequences of these problems, risk factors, and current tools for evaluation, detection, and diagnosis were the main topics addressed by the expert.

On the first day, Roser Palau, a researcher at Universidad Pompeu Fabra and director of a digital project to improve mothers’ mental health, DANA, gave a lecture focused on digital intoxication and the pathologization of pregnancy. The scientist outlined the most relevant aspects of the social context of searching for maternal health information today.

Lastly, the first day concluded with a presentation by Emma Motrico, a researcher at Universidad Loyola and director of the e-Perinatal project. The scientist discussed the prevention of perinatal mental health problems. She presented a series of current evidence and the advancements of the e-Perinatal project, including the development of a comprehensive support application for parents in the perinatal period.

Esther Ramirez Martos, during her intervention on traumatic processes in the perinatal period The second day was initiated by health psychologist Esther Ramírez Martos, an expert in family and perinatal therapy and a lecturer at the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health. The intervention focused on addressing common traumatic processes such as perinatal death or the impact of fertility treatments.

The final intervention was by psychiatrist Raquel Carmona, an expert in perinatal mental health, who delved into the approach to common mental health problems in Andalusia in special Perinatal Mental Health units. The physician discussed psychopharmacology during this period and presented a practical case of referral. The expert highlighted the importance of research in the development of new specific drugs for mental health disorders associated with this stage.

The closing was conducted by Irene Agea, president of the Asociación Andaluza de Matronas, who concluded the event with a motivational speech, encouraging the continuation of this training. The president thanked Emma Motrico for her support, saying, “we have been able to express our concerns and she has made them a reality in these sessions.”

This is the 8th European Training School of Riseup-PPD organized by the COST Action RISEUP-PPD, which includes researchers from the e-perinatal project.

Throughout the week, more than twenty experts from all over Europe have gathered at Universidad Loyola to celebrate the eighth session of the Training School of the COST Action called RISEUP-PPD, Research innovation and sustainable pan-European network in peripartum depression disorder.

The training has been developed by the Working Group on Assessment Approaches and Methods in postpartum depression, whose main objective is to evaluate, develop and define standard procedures to assess women diagnosed with postpartum depression, to collect genetic and epigenetic biomarkers, to assess the impact on newborn and infant development and to assess interpersonal functioning (mother-infant dyad and father-mother-infant triad).

The aim of this Training School is to advance and exchange knowledge with health professionals on the measures used to assess the neurodevelopment of infants and children. It has also included two workshops related to ethical aspects of the evaluation of infant neurodevelopment, issues that require ethical reflection and a series of scientific methods and standards in this regard. This training was given by the researcher Susanne Uusitalo, PhD in Philosophy at the University of Turku, Finland, who is responsible for the Finnish unit of the International Chair of Bioethics and leader of the working group of this project on Ethical standards and procedures for clinical research in postpartum depression. In addition, taking advantage of her visit, the researcher has offered a seminar to all researchers at Universidad Loyola about Ethics of scientific research.

The other workshop was on Research and Treatment and Sensory Processing. For this, we hosted Helga O. Miguel, researcher in the Section of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, who focuses on behavioral and neuroscientific methods to learn more about sensation, perception and emotion in typically developing infants and children and in infants/children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

During the workshop, she analyzed the effects of sensorimotor processing on brain function in infants and children , focusing on touch and movement. Moreover, she explained how basic sensorimotor processes are related to developmental outcomes in typically developing infants and in infants at risk for developmental disorders, specifically autism.

The training was organized by Universidad Loyola researchers and members of the international Riseup-PPD network Emma Motrico and Rosalba Company. Dr. Emma Motrico is the Principal Investigator of the e-Perinatal Project “Universal prevention of maternal perinatal mental disorders and its implementation as normalized routine practice”.

This project, whose acronym is e-Perinatal, led by the researcher at Universidad Loyola, develops a personalized App for mothers and their partners to prevent perinatal depression and anxiety. It is also the first project that will analyze how to prevent depression in parents or partners and the effectiveness of such interventions in babies.

COST actions are networks dedicated to scientific collaboration whose objective is to strengthen scientific research in Europe by funding collaborative networks between researchers. This is why such meetings are organized between researchers and health professionals from all over Europe.