Dear Colleagues,

Mental health during the perinatal period has increasingly become a focus of clinical, research, and public health interest, given its profound impact on early bonding, parental wellbeing, and infant development. The transition to parenthood involves profound psychological, physiological, and social changes. While it can be a period of growth and joy, it is also marked by heightened vulnerability to stress, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and trauma reactivation.

This Special Issue aims to explore current developments and innovative contributions in the field of perinatal mental health, from pregnancy through the postpartum period. We welcome contributions focused on the experiences of mothers, fathers, co-parents, and diverse family structures, acknowledging that mental health challenges and resources are shaped by individual, relational, and systemic factors.

We are particularly interested in studies examining risk and protective factors, as well as the conditions that may complicate or enrich the perinatal experience—such as medically assisted reproduction, partner dynamics, social support, cultural background, or pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities. We also encourage submissions addressing the impact of perinatal mental health on early bonding, caregiving responsibilities, and infant development, as well as papers focused on prevention, early intervention, and psychosocial care strategies.

On behalf of the Editorial Office, we warmly invite the submission of original research, reviews, and systematic reviews that help advance the field of perinatal mental health—from vulnerability to caregiving.

Prof. Laura Lacomba-Trejo and Prof. Francisco González-Sala
Guest Editors