MATTER Project: Implementation and Evaluation of a Cross-Sector Digital Screening and Early Intervention Program for Perinatal Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Settings

INTRODUCTION The perinatal period (understood as the time from conception to one year after childbirth) constitutes a unique individual and family experience, marked by multifaceted transformations and adaptations at the physical, psychological, social, and emotional levels. It is common for parents to experience a spiraling process of psychological distress during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period, which is often neglected not only by close support figures but also by healthcare professionals. This gap in attention to maternal mental well-being and to the newly (re)constructed family unit is partly due to the predominant focus on obstetric well-being, fetal health, and, subsequently, infant health.

From a holistic perspective aimed at maximizing intervention impact, perinatal mental health should be considered a key determinant to be actively safeguarded throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is essential for the viability of a healthy parenting process and fundamental for child development. Families undertaking their parenting journey should be supported within a network of primary and secondary relational systems that may help mitigate or overcome vulnerabilities.

Over the past decade, growing evidence has highlighted the significant impact of perinatal mental health disorders. These conditions are currently considered the leading undiagnosed obstetric complication (1). The perinatal period has also been identified as the life stage during which women are at greatest risk of developing mental illness (1).

A study conducted in the United States involving more than 10,000 women reported a 21.9% prevalence of depression during the first year postpartum. Among these cases, 26.5% began before pregnancy, 33.4% during pregnancy, and 40.1% after childbirth (2).

Compared to other life stages, mental illness during the perinatal period tends to show more rapid symptom progression. This underscores the need for mental healthcare interventions that ensure both continuity of care and timely response. It is crucial to prevent or reduce the harms associated with untreated mental illness, given the risks to the mother (including obstetric complications or psychiatric hospitalization) and to the infant (including difficulties in secure attachment formation, emotional regulation, and cognitive development).