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Description
The project is aimed at children who are exposed to the toxic psychosocial stress present in their mothers during pregnancy or after childbirth. Due to psychosocial stress in their mothers, these children are at risk of developing a mental disorder or having impaired psychosocial development.
In Czechia, there is no prevention of psychosocial stress in women, which also plays a preventive role in the development of mental disorders in their children. Mental disorders in parents are stigmatized in Czechia, which prevents parents from seeking care.
We want to change this situation, so we will:
a) create and pilot a screening program for psychosocial stress in perinatal women in gynecological clinics
b) connect the screening program to the integrated step care system created by us, including peer support, which we will pilot test
c) organize information and destigmatization activities on the topic: "Pregnancy without psychosocial stress - the basis for the healthy development of the child."
The aim of the project is to bring new tested methodologies, thanks to which we can find women experiencing perinatal stress and reduce this stress in them. In this way, we will also reduce the stress to which their children are exposed. Another goal is to raise awareness about mental disorders in parents and reduce the stigma associated with it. Our project is in line with the National Action Plan for Mental Health 2020-2030 and the Reform of Psychiatric Care.
Children who are affected by perinatal psychosocial stress and mental disorders in their mothers will benefit from the implementation of the project. The project is realized in partnership with the patient organization Usmev Mamy, which has been building specific know-how about the target group since 2014. The National Institute of Mental Health has been cooperating with Usmev Mamy since 2019.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to support women''s mental health during pregnancy and postpartum, addressing psychosocial stress and its impact on both mother and child. Mental health issues in the perinatal period can greatly affect both, yet are still stigmatized in the Czech Republic. The main challenges were to involve gynaecological outpatient clinics in screening and to provide quality peer support, which included training of consultants and the development and implementation of a new care methodology.
The project implemented 5 key activities. As part of KA1, there was conducted psychosocial stress screening in 3 746 pregnant and postpartum women in 20 gynaecological outpatient clinics in Prague, Central Bohemia and Olomouc regions. As a result, a methodology for early detection of mental health problems was developed. KA2 included linking screening to integrated care, where the intervention helped 495 women at risk. Analysis showed that the intervention were effective in
reducing psychosocial stress and anxiety in women. A peer support methodology was developed.
Within the framework of KA3, 6 professional conferences and 4 information campaigns were realized. KA4 focused on project publicity, including website, press releases and social media management. These activities ensured the dissemination of information about the project and the importance of the topic, as well as about the grant provider. KA5 ensured the management of the project.
Support for mental health in unborn and postpartum children was enhanced by screening 3,746 pregnant and postpartum women for psychosocial stress and linking 495 at-risk women to integrated care. The intervention significantly reduced stress and anxiety levels. Additionally, the project organized 6 professional conferences for 319 participants, conducted 4 awareness campaigns, and published social media posts reaching up to half a million users.
The project supports the programme''s goal of "Improving prevention and reducing health inequalities" by: a) Screening psychosocial stress in pregnant and postpartum women, followed by interventions to prevent serious mental disorders in women and their children; b) Conducting information and destigmatization activities that highlight the neglect of maternal mental health, its impact on children, and the need for specialized services, calling for solutions to these issues.