Objective: A recent systematic review found that education programs in perinatal mental health (PMH) had limited effects on detection, referral, and support of parents with perinatal mental health problems (PMHPs). This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences, views and priorities of persons with lived experience (PWLEs), obstetric providers (OPs), childcare health providers (CHPs) and mental health providers (MHPs) on education in PMH. Design/Setting: We used a participatory research design, i.e. co-production by academic researchers and researchers with lived experience as equal partners. We recruited PWLEs through Maman Blues’ association and a centre for psychiatric rehabilitation, and providers through perinatal health networks. Sample/Methods: We conducted nine focus groups and 24 individual interviews between December 2020 and May 2022 for a total number of 84 participants (24 PWLEs; 30 OPs; 11 CHPs and 19 MHPs). We used Braun & Clarke’s inductive six-step process in the thematic analysis. Results: We found some degree of difference in the priorities for education in PMH identified by PWLEs (e.g. person-centred collaborative perinatal healthcare) and providers (e.g. knowledge about PMHPs). Providers considered PMH assessment as part of their role but reported feeling ill-prepared to do so and negative attitudes about their role in perinatal mental health care for parents with suicidal ideations or serious mental illness. Organisational factors comprised PMH integration into standard perinatal healthcare and common culture between non-MHPs and MHPs. Conclusions: Education programs in PMH should be co-designed with PWLEs and focus on providing collaborative person-centred care for all parents.

Objective: To compare the mental well-being of French women who were and were not pregnant during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Design: Survey. Setting: France. Population: Women between 18 and 45 years of age during the second and third weeks of global lockdown (March 25–April 07, 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nationwide online quantitative survey. Main Outcome Measures: Mental well-being measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Results: This study analysed 275 responses from pregnant women and compared them with those from a propensity score–matched sample of 825 non-pregnant women. The median WEMWBS score was 49.0 and did not differ by pregnancy status. Women living in urban areas reported better well-being, while those with sleep disorders or who spent more than an hour a day watching the news reported poorer well-being. Conclusion: During the first lockdown in France, women had relatively low mental well-being scores, with no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant women. More than ever, health-care workers need to find a way to maintain their support for women’s well-being. Minor daily annoyances of pregnancy, such as insomnia, should not be trivialised because they are a potential sign of poor well-being.