Investing in Perinatal Mental Health: Economic Evidence for Policy, Research and Practice – Part 2: Country Case Studies  

GOLTC Global Perinatal Mental Health Interest Group webinar

Date: 29 June 2026

Time: 12:00-13:30 BST

Link: Register to join on Zoom    

Webinar series: Investing in Perinatal Mental Health: Economic Evidence for Policy, Research and Practice

Background 

Perinatal mental health problems are common worldwide and have significant consequences for parents, infants, families, and societies. Despite growing recognition of their impact, economic evidence on the costs of perinatal mental health problems and the value of investing in prevention and care is still underused in decision-making, particularly in resource-constrained settings. 

This webinar series aims to strengthen how economic evidence is generated, interpreted, and applied to inform research, policy, and service development in perinatal mental health. It brings together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and others interested in using economic insights to support more effective and equitable investment in maternal mental health. 

The series is linked to the Global Economics in Maternal Mental Health (GEMMH) project and the development of practical resources, including a Cost Calculator tool. 

Across the series, we will explore: 

• Practical tools for estimating the costs of perinatal mental health problems 

• How economic evidence can support policy and investment decisions 

• Country case studies illustrating how cost and economic evidence can inform research, advocacy, and service development 

• Opportunities to build a global community of practice around economic evidence in perinatal mental health. 

Webinar 2: Making the Case for Investment in Perinatal Mental Health: Country Case Studies 

In the second webinar of the GEMMH series, we will hear from colleagues across the globe — including Türkiye, Pakistan, Ghana, The Gambia, and Zimbabwe — about how they are developing and using economic evidence to strengthen the case for investment in maternal and perinatal mental health. 

Speakers will share emerging research, country-specific experiences, and practical reflections on how economic evidence can support policy development, advocacy, service planning, and investment decisions in diverse settings.  

Presentations may include new evidence on the costs and impacts of maternal mental health problems, cost-effectiveness of interventions, national and regional policy priorities, approaches to stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned from applying economic perspectives in real-world contexts. 

The webinar aims to create a practical and collaborative space for international exchange, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of generating and using economic evidence in resource-constrained settings. 

Topics explored across the session will include: 

• Developing country-specific economic evidence in maternal mental health  

• Using economic evidence to inform policy, advocacy, and investment decisions  

• Engaging stakeholders, funders, and decision makers  

• Identifying evidence gaps and future priorities for research and practice  

• Reflections on implementation challenges, partnerships, and opportunities going forward.  

This session is intended for anyone interested in strengthening the economic case for investing in perinatal mental health, including researchers, clinicians, programme implementers, policy advisers, advocates, and funders. 

The webinar will cover:  

1. Introduction to the Global Observatory of Long-Term care and welcome (Adelina Comas-Herrera, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, LSE, UK). 
2. Introduction to the GOLTC Interest Group and the Global Economics in Maternal Mental Health Project (Annette Bauer, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, LSE, UK)
3. Presentations (10 minutes & 5 mins Q&A each):  

• Strengthening the Economic Case for Maternal Mental Health in Pakistan: Evidence from Learning Through Play Plus, Dr Mohsin Alvi, Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning  
• Building the Economic Evidence Base for Birth-Related Trauma: Barriers, Gaps and Future Directions, Dr Gülcan Tecirli, The Ministry of Health of Türkiye 
• Making the investment case for maternal mental health in Ghana: Policy, Economic Evidence and Early Child Development Interventions, Dr Marilyn N. Ahun, PhD, McGill University, Canada
• Strengthening Maternal Mental Health Care in Zimbabwe: Advocacy, Priorities and Opportunities, Linos Muvhu, Society of Pre- and Postnatal Services (SPANS), Zimbabwe 
• Advancing Mental Health Policy and Investment in The Gambia: Lessons for Community and Maternal Mental Health, Mam Jarra Marega, Ministry of Health, The Gambia