Support during Transition to Motherhood
The project BEAM is developing a model of care including a smartphone app to provide targeted support to women experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety during the transition to motherhood and to strengthen their mental health.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Health Professions
- Institute(s) Academic-Practice-Partnership Insel Gruppe/ BFH
- Funding organisation BFH
- Duration (planned) 01.10.2025 - 30.09.2027
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schmitt
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Project staff
Lena Sutter
Dr. Renato Mattli - Partner Inselspital Bern
- Keywords blended care, eHealth, motherhood, depression, anxiety disorders
Situation
Approximately one in five women experiences a mental health disorder during pregnancy and in the first year after childbirth (peripartum period), with depression and anxiety disorders being the most common. If left untreated, these conditions can have serious consequences for the mother, the child, and the entire family. Suicide, for example, has become one of the leading causes of death in the first year postpartum. Early identification and treatment of affected women are therefore crucial. The overarching goal of the BEAM project (Blended eHealth care to foster the transition to motherhood for women with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety disorders) is to support women with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety during the transition to motherhood and, in particular, to promote their mental health in a targeted manner. A blended eHealth approach is being developed, tailored to the needs of affected women and the healthcare professionals involved in their care. Unlike the apps currently available, this eHealth approach is integrated (blended care) into the treatment and care process. Midwives and obstetricians can select and recommend self-management and lifestyle interventions within the application—e.g., for sleep or stress regulation—and review their effectiveness at subsequent consultations. BEAM does not replace psychotherapy but aims to offer a practical and easily implementable way to provide targeted support to affected women.
Course of action
The project will be implemented in four steps: 1. National online survey of healthcare professionals (midwives, obstetricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, as well as maternal and paternal advisors). The aim is to gather knowledge and experience regarding peripartum mental health disorders, available resources and challenges, as well as to identify requirements for a blended eHealth solution. 2. Individual interviews with formerly affected women. These provide deeper insights into personal burdens, experiences, and needs during the transition to motherhood. Expectations and requirements for a digital application are also collected. 3. Interactive, participatory development of the new blended eHealth intervention. Based on the results of the first two steps, the new intervention is developed using the IDEAS framework. Content, interventions, and the app’s design are reflected upon and validated in focus group interviews with healthcare professionals. 4. Pilot study in the APM service at the University Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Inselspital Bern. The developed app is tested in combination with in-person consultations. The aim is to evaluate feasibility, usability, user experience, and gather initial evidence of effectiveness.
