Perinatal mental health refers to the period from pregnancy to one year after childbirth. The physiological and emotional changes of pregnancy, childbirth and care of a newborn baby can make the perinatal period a moment of vulnerability for mothers and fathers.
The promotion of perinatal mental health, recognizing and addressing discomfort and/or psychopathological disorders in the mother or father are important for both the individual and the development of the child and its family.
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS, the Italian National Institute of Health) conducts research for the support of fragile maternity and paternity and to improve the outcomes of the more severe perinatal mental disorders.
