One in two new mothers in Cyprus reports symptoms of depression and anxiety that warrant further assessment, while the same proportion of women describe their childbirth experience as "painful". These are among the most concerning findings of the first nationwide study on maternal mental health in Cyprus, highlighting the need for meaningful psychological support for women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
The study was conducted by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) as part of the European Mind the Mum project and involved 474 new mothers from across Cyprus. The findings were presented at a conference held on 14 and 15 October at the Shiakolas Educational Centre for Clinical Medicine in Nicosia, attended by 80 healthcare professionals.
Data were collected through questionnaires completed by mothers, while focus groups were also conducted to record women's personal experiences of motherhood.
What the study found
The first major finding concerns women's mental health.
According to the results, approximately 50% of the new mothers who participated in the study reported symptoms of depression and anxiety that require further investigation.
These are symptoms, not confirmed clinical diagnoses. Nevertheless, the scale of the issue, as reflected in participants' responses, highlights the importance of identifying women who may require specialised support at an early stage.
The second significant finding was that one in two women described her childbirth experience as "painful", underlining the need for further examination of women's experiences within maternity care services.
Taken together, the findings place not only maternal mental health under the spotlight, but also the way women experience pregnancy, childbirth and the transition to motherhood.
What needs to change
According to the research team, the results point to the need for systematic programmes to detect mental health difficulties, as well as clear referral procedures to appropriate support services.
Particular emphasis is placed on early intervention so that mothers' difficulties can be recognised promptly and not left untreated.
Researchers also highlighted the need for the consistent collection of statistical indicators relating to perinatal mental health, in order to gain a clearer understanding of needs and design targeted interventions.
They further stressed that support for motherhood should be multi-layered, incorporating appropriate services, programmes and healthcare professional training, while also empowering women themselves and their family environments.
Support from pregnancy onwards
The project's scientific coordinator, Dr Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, associate professor of Midwifery at CUT, underlined the research team's commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, mothers, newborns and their families.
Meanwhile, Dr Maria Panayiotou, speaking on behalf of the Midwives Committee of the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association, said that "perinatal mental health is an integral part of maternity care and deserves the same level of priority as every other aspect of a woman's and her family's health".
The conference also addressed issues relating to communication between healthcare professionals and mothers, the management of sensitive situations such as perinatal loss, and the need for psychological and institutional support for healthcare workers themselves.
Examples of good practice from Poland were also presented, focusing on respect for women's rights during childbirth, informed consent for medical interventions, breastfeeding support and ensuring contact between mother and newborn immediately after birth.
Free programme for expectant mothers
As part of the Mind the Mum project, a free empowerment and preparation programme for expectant mothers is already being implemented through nationwide meetings organised by CUT in collaboration with Birth Forward.
The programme aims to strengthen women's psychological preparedness and provide support tools during the perinatal period. Once the pilot phase is completed, organisers hope it will be made available to perinatal and mental health professionals throughout Cyprus.
The European project, co-funded through the EU4Health programme and collecting data from Cyprus and Slovenia, is expected to conclude in mid-2027.
Until then, the research team plans to submit evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving health services and ensuring the meaningful integration of perinatal mental health into both primary and secondary healthcare.
