The organization EKO EHO – Center for Education and Promotion of Healthy Living welcomes the adoption of the new Mental Health Promotion Program for the Citizens of Republika Srpska for the period 2025–2027, along with the accompanying Action Plan, which outlines the continuation of postpartum depression screening as part of systemic measures to protect the mental health of mothers and families. These steps are essential for safeguarding the mental well-being of women during the most vulnerable period of their lives, as well as for protecting the health of children and entire families.

These documents confirm that the mental health of mothers has been recognized as a public health priority, and the planned measures – including the introduction of regular screening in primary healthcare centers and the revision of the Methodological Guidelines – represent an important step toward the timely identification and treatment of postpartum depression.

We remind the public that as early as November last year, we submitted an official initiative to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska, calling for the continuation of mandatory screening and emphasizing the urgency of early detection and support for women during the perinatal period.

"As we often emphasize, postpartum depression is the most common complication after childbirth, affecting around 20% of women, with a large number of cases remaining undetected and untreated. That is why we welcome the Ministry's decision to include regular screening for depression during the perinatal period in at least ten local government units through the Action Plan, as well as to revise the Methodological Guidelines for screening", said Jelena Mihić Salapura, campaign coordinator.

We invite pregnant women and new mothers to contact us and share their experiences — specifically, whether they underwent postpartum depression screening during their visits to primary healthcare centers. Their insights will help us monitor the implementation of this plan and guide our future activities.

The organization will continue to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan, support healthcare professionals through training, and raise public awareness about the importance of early detection of postpartum depression.

The campaign “Advocating for the Introduction of Postpartum Depression Screening in BiH” is being carried out in cooperation with our partner organizations: the Association for Education and Development “Dignitet” from Mostar, the Association of Families Facing Infertility “Bebe” from Trebinje, and the Association of Active Women “Gender” from Brčko.