Mind the Mom

This project aimed to contribute to the minimization of the specific contingencies imposed by the pandemic on the perinatal population, which represent increased risks for women’s mental health and for other maternal-infant’s health outcomes; it was also oriented to help diminish the burden felt by health services, whose search increases when emotional disturbance or psychopathology develops.

In its prosecution it was developed and test the preliminary effectiveness of a brief psychological intervention, in the form of a mobile application called Mind the Mom, containing information and exercises based on cognitive-behavioural therapeutic strategies with proven evidence of promoting perinatal mental health. Those strategies, although adapted to the pandemic context, are transversal and may be used in other similar risk situations. Another goal of the project was to train health professionals in the use of universal preventive strategies indicated to promote maternal mental health, following a stepped-care model that may include the integration of the Mind the Mom application in their clinical practice.

“Mind the Mom” was proposed by CINEICC in collaboration with the Obstetrics Service of Maternity Daniel de Matos and the Clinical Psychology Unit of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra.