Cyprus University of Technology launches project to address perinatal mental health

The Nursing Department of the Cyprus University of Technology has launched the Mind the Mum project, running from 2024 to 2027. Co-funded by the European Union under the EU4Health program (reference 101161382), the initiative addresses the global lack of documentation regarding perinatal mental health. Partners from Cyprus, Slovenia, Poland, and Spain are collaborating on this project to prioritize mental health support for new mothers. According to the UN OCHA and UNICEF, there is an urgent need for evidence-based policies in this field, which currently lacks priority. In Cyprus specifically, there is a total absence of official statistical indicators regarding perinatal mental health. To bridge this data gap, the project has conducted a nationwide survey involving 474 mothers who gave birth in the last year. The project aims to empower new mothers, train healthcare professionals, and foster institutional synergies.