Investing in Perinatal Mental Health: Economic Evidence for Policy, Research and Practice – Part 3: Advocacy, the Thailand Experience and Connecting the Dots Across Asia

GOLTC Global Perinatal Mental Health Interest Group webinar 

Date: 28 September 2026 

Time: 9AM – 10:30 AM BST 

Link: Register to join on Zoom

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. 

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 Global Perinatal Mental Health interest group (Annette Bauer, CPEC, LSE) 
3. The Economic Case in the Bigger Picture: Lessons from Advancing Perinatal Mental Health in Thailand (Hamish Reginald Magoffin, PAM Foundation & Perinatal Alliance for Mental Health Thailand (PAM Thailand) 
4. Perinatal Mental Health – Advocacy and Implementation in Asia  (Shanon McNab, UNFPA) 
5. Maternal Mental Health Alliances in the Asian region: Status quo and next steps (Alain Gregoire, Global Alliance in Maternal Mental Health )
6. Discussion facilitated by Annette Bauer