One in two new mothers in Cyprus report symptoms of depression and anxiety that require further assessment, according to the first nationwide study on maternal mental health conducted by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT).
The findings highlight the need for better screening, early intervention and support for women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
The research forms part of the European project Mind the Mum, led by CUT, with Dr Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, Associate Professor of Midwifery, serving as its scientific coordinator.
Co-funded by the European Union through the EU4Health programme, the project runs from 2024 to 2027. It collects national data on perinatal mental health in Cyprus and Slovenia, develops support and empowerment programmes for mothers and healthcare professionals, and makes recommendations to improve maternity care at local and European level.
Half of mothers report symptoms requiring further assessment
The findings were based on quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaires completed by 474 new mothers in Cyprus, alongside focus groups exploring their experiences of motherhood.
Researchers identified particularly high levels of reported depression and anxiety symptoms. One in two women in Cyprus reported symptoms requiring further assessment, while half described their childbirth experience as “painful”.
The results point to the need for systematic screening, clear referral pathways and accessible support services. Researchers also stressed the importance of monitoring statistical indicators and providing early intervention.
The study highlights the need for a coordinated approach to maternal mental health, supported by appropriate programmes and services, further training for healthcare professionals, and stronger support networks for women and their families.
Healthcare professionals receive specialist training
The findings were presented at a conference held at the Shacoleio Educational Centre for Clinical Medicine on 14 and 15 October. The event was organised in collaboration with the Midwives Committee of the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association, with support from the Ministry of Health’s National Breastfeeding Committee.
Around 80 healthcare professionals from across Cyprus took part, including midwives, nurses, health visitors and psychologists.
The conference included training on perinatal mental healthcare, best practices and screening tools for identifying difficulties during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Sessions also addressed cooperation between healthcare professionals and parents, communication skills, support following perinatal loss, and the psychological and institutional support needed by professionals working in perinatal care.
Participants also learned about initiatives in Poland, including the Birth with Dignity organisation and the Next Stop Mum programme. Their work has helped advance maternity support through campaigns promoting informed consent for medical interventions, breastfeeding support, skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns, and legal protections for quality midwifery care and women’s rights during childbirth.
Experts call for stronger maternal support
Dr Eleni Hadjigeorgiou reaffirmed the project’s commitment to promoting the health of pregnant women, foetuses, mothers, newborns and families. She also highlighted plans to empower healthcare professionals through interactive workshops and targeted training.
Representing the Ministry of Health, Chryso Grigoriadou, president of the National Breastfeeding Committee, emphasised the role of continuous professional training in delivering quality perinatal care. She also underlined the importance of psychological support for mothers during breastfeeding.
Dr Maria Panayiotou, representing the Midwives Committee of the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association, said perinatal mental health should be treated as an integral part of midwifery care, with the same importance and priority as other aspects of women’s and families’ health.
Free preparation programme for expectant mothers
The Mind the Mum project continues to offer a free empowerment and preparation programme for expectant mothers through meetings organised across Cyprus by TEPAK in cooperation with local partner Birth Forward. The programme also involves Slovenia-based partner Institut Umbilica.
Following the pilot phase, the initiative aims to become a tool that perinatal and mental health professionals across Cyprus can use to help prepare and support mothers during pregnancy and the period after birth.
The project will also submit evidence-based recommendations for healthcare reform, with the aim of integrating perinatal mental health more effectively into primary and secondary care. The proposals will focus on prevention, coordination between services and cooperation between different healthcare disciplines.
Mind the Mum is expected to conclude in mid-2027. Its final international conference is scheduled to take place at the Shacoleio Educational Centre for Clinical Medicine in Nicosia on 10 June 2027, with experts from Cyprus, Greece and other European countries.
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