SAAS develops coordinated support for parents during pregnancy and early infancy, involving multiple teams

Andorra's Mental Health and Addictions Service (SAAS) is developing a specialised perinatal mental health programme to offer coordinated support for families during pregnancy and the newborn's first months.

The initiative involves collaboration with gynaecology, midwifery, paediatrics, child and youth mental health teams, and the addictive behaviours unit. Joan Soler, head of SAAS, said the service intends to form a dedicated team. It will cover both mothers and fathers, recognising the father's key role in family wellbeing. Soler stressed the need to assist both parents to support the child's development, noting that fathers are often overlooked.

The programme targets issues such as alcohol consumption during pregnancy, use of anxiolytics, anxiety episodes, and advice on safe medications or practices. Post-birth, it will guide fathers on their influence over the infant's mental health in the early months and years. Soler described postpartum depression as an established mental health disorder that requires structured protocols and inter-departmental coordination.

A child and youth mental health psychologist already supports early infancy alongside midwives, but SAAS aims to significantly expand this work. Staff will receive training at advanced hospitals in neighbouring countries and across Europe, adapting leading models to Andorra's cultural and local context. The effort stems from a commitment to update services and address stigma that hinders detection and treatment, rather than any specific rise in cases.

In related updates, SAAS staff—including a neuropsychologist and psychologist—completed adult autism diagnosis training this summer. Further specialist courses are planned for next year to maintain a highly skilled team. The service has also added a second psycho-oncologist in internal medicine to improve care for patients with chronic illnesses, palliative needs, and cancer.