School of Health Sciences

Sensitive healthcare for inclusive needs in perinatal depression (SHINE)

Becoming a parent is a major life change, but it can also be a time when depression arises. The research study SHINE is dedicated to creating more inclusive support for all parents and family models experiencing perinatal depression, ensuring everyone receives the care they need to thrive.

Background

Pregnancy and the year following birth, the perinatal period, can be a time of increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Perinatal depression is a common condition that can affect any parent, including birthing parents (typically mothers) and non-birthing parents (typically fathers). In Switzerland, there is currently no standardized practice for detecting or treating perinatal depression, which can prevent or delay access to support. This includes mothers, fathers, single parents and LGBTQI+ parents. The project aims to address this gap by developing a health model for perinatal depression that can meet the needs of all parents by taking gender differences into account.

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Objectives

The goals of the project include investigating the specific health needs of parents from various family structures, adapting existing clinical practices to meet those needs, and creating a Swiss clinical guideline for the treatment of perinatal depression that takes gender differences into account.

Methods

To achieve the project’s objectives, interviews with parents will be conducted to capture their experiences and needs, as well as focus groups with healthcare professionals to discuss their experiences and barriers in providing care. In co-design workshops, stakeholders will collaborate to develop solu-tions and inform service models. These service prototypes will be refined with user groups. Finally, international guidelines will be adapted to the Swiss context to develop a comprehensive clinical guideline.

Expected results

The project’s expected outcomes include an inclusive care model that addresses the needs of all parents and family types, a central digital platform for easier access to services, a high-quality clinical guideline to support clinicians in detecting and treating perinatal depression, and a community of practice that enables ongoing collaboration between healthcare professionals and user associations to sustainably improve care.

Ultimately, SHINE aims to create a more inclusive and effective care model to ensure that all parents with perinatal depression receive the necessary support in a timely way.

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Project team ZHAW

Project team UNIL

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