The first results of the “Mind the Mom” project show users’ perception of usefulness and satisfaction with an online intervention for perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a mobile application format (app).
Conducted by a team from the Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra (FPCEUC), in collaboration with the Obstetrics Service A of the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, Reproduction and Neonatology and the Clinical Psychology Unit of the Hospital and University Center of Coimbra (CHUC), the Mind the Mom project aims to minimize the challenges that arise from the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the well-being of pregnant women: alteration routines for obstetric follow-up and preparation for childbirth, limitations on the presence of companions during pregnancy and postpartum and uncertainty regarding the present and the near future.
The project focuses on a brief psychological intervention, through a mobile application – Mind the Mom -, with information, exercises, and cognitive-behavioral therapeutic strategies with evidence in promoting the pregnant woman’s mental health, adapted to the context of the pandemic and other situations similar risk factors.
So far 225 pregnant women participate in the study; among users of the app, “about 81% consider themselves very satisfied or extremely satisfied, 74% rate it as very useful or extremely useful, 87% intend to apply the information and exercises suggested in their routine, 88% intend to return to use the app and 92% would recommend the app to other pregnant women,” reports Anabela Araújo Pedrosa, coordinator of the study, which is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within the scope of the 2nd edition of the RESEARCH4COVID19 action.
The Mind the Mom app, developed in partnership with Hypsoftware and musician Miguel Falcão, is available for Android and IOS systems. It consists of five modules, which explore “the impact of stress and uncertainty on health, self-care and stress management, recognition and management of uncomfortable emotions, dealing with negative thoughts, mindfulness and self-compassion and interpersonal communication. In each one it is possible to find information and practical exercises, which can easily be introduced into the daily routines of the participants”, explains the CINEICC researcher and clinical psychologist at the Maternidade Daniel de Matos do CHUC.
The mobile application remains available for pregnant women across the country, simply by accessing the project page: https://mindthemom.pt/. After completing a questionnaire, a link to download the Mind the Mom app will be sent.
This research project is a partner of the World Maternal Mental Health Day initiative, a consortium of institutions dedicated to research and intervention in maternal mental health, which develops actions that raise awareness of the relevance of investment and attention in this area, and proposes a World Health Day Mental Maternal.
Follow us on social media: Instagram; Facebook; Twitter; Youtube.
