So that no new mother is left alone: a study of access to psychological support in Panevėžys County

Problem

A woman’s mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth matters not only for her own well-being, but also for her baby’s development, the bond between mother and child, and the emotional health of the whole family. Yet postnatal depression remains one of Lithuania’s public health problems that is too often overlooked and not addressed in time.

The scale of the problem is revealed by the results of the “My Childbirth” (“Mano gimdymas”) survey. According to the Union of Maternity Care Initiatives (MGIS), 22.1–24.4% of the women who took part in the survey in 2020–2022 experienced significant symptoms of postnatal depression: nearly one in four mothers. These figures show that emotional difficulties after childbirth are not isolated cases, but affect a substantial share of women.

The data are supported by a 2023 study at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, which assessed the emotional state of 200 women in the first days after childbirth and again one month later. It found that 27.6% of mothers had severe symptoms of postnatal depression and 8% had moderate symptoms.

A 2025 survey in Vilnius healthcare institutions, covering specialists (121) and pregnant women and new mothers (114), revealed systemic gaps in support. 61% of the women surveyed rated the attention healthcare professionals paid to their psychological well-being as below average, and only 12% said they had received enough information about the psychological support available. About nine in ten women would like postnatal depression risk assessment to become a routine part of pregnancy and postnatal care.

These results show that postnatal emotional difficulties are a significant public health challenge that requires consistent attention.

The core problem, therefore, is not only how common postnatal depression symptoms are, but also the lack of a consistent system for recognising them, assessing risk, referring women to support and continuing to support them afterwards. It is important to find out how this system works in the regions and whether women who need help actually receive it.

This project aims to find out how the system for assessing the emotional health of pregnant women and recent mothers, recognising possible symptoms of postnatal depression and organising support actually works in Panevėžys County.

The project will examine how the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire (mandatory in Lithuania since July 2024) is applied in different municipalities, how its results are recorded and followed up, what actions are taken once a possible risk has been identified, who is responsible for contacting the mother and referring her to support, what services are available to her, and how cooperation between different institutions is ensured.

Panevėžys County was chosen because its size suits the project’s timeframe. It is a medium-sized Lithuanian county, which makes it possible to see differences between larger and smaller municipalities. The project covers the municipalities of Panevėžys City, Panevėžys District, Biržai District, Pasvalys District, Kupiškis District and Rokiškis District.

Goal

Project goal: to identify the key gaps in the psychological support system for new mothers and, on that basis, to propose a coordinated, mother-centred support model that meets the needs of Panevėžys County.

Participants

2026/27

Skirmantė Janavičė