Editorial : maternal and infant (mental) health and development : our TREASURE : introducing an EU COST Action on the impact of maternal perinatal stress

Abstract

Advances in the scientific understanding of the impact of maternal perinatal stress can provide information that is beneficial for women, families and their children across decades. The perinatal period refers to the time from conception up to 1 year postpartum (Fort et al., 2024). Stress, despite often being portrayed as a detrimental response, is a crucial contributor to optimal development and biopsychosocial adaptation of organ isms to challenges throughout the lifespan by inducing physiological changes, such as in immune, metabolic and cardiovascular systems (McEwen & Akil, 2020). In support of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Europe task force suggested maternal mental health to be promoted in order to enhance early childhood develop ment. Moreover, WHO Europe recommends a healthy environment during the perinatal period to achieve a healthy infancy, childhood and adulthood (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022).