Newsletter
Help us make a difference
Our study and white paper on perinatal mental health in the Swiss workplace, developed in collaboration with OST – Fachhochschule Ostschweiz, present a clear picture: employers remain largely unprepared for the psychological challenges of the transition to parenthood – and this is felt acutely by those affected. Nearly 3 in 4 people who experienced a mental health condition during pregnancy or after childbirth reported receiving no support, or insufficient support, from their employer. Only 2 in 10 said they were satisfied with how their employer had handled the situation. Most strikingly, over 80% reported that mental health was never addressed in their workplace at all – regardless of pregnancy or childbirth.
The consequences are significant: one quarter of those affected left their job voluntarily, while 8% lost their job as a direct result of their condition or its effects. These are talented professionals who could have been retained with the right support.
Our methodology
Between September 2023 and February 2024, Periparto Switzerland surveyed 299 individuals – including 173 people with lived experience of perinatal mental health conditions. The findings of this quantitative study formed the basis for two validation workshops, conducted jointly with the Institute for Innovation, Design and Engineering (IDEE) at OST – Fachhochschule Ostschweiz. The resulting recommendations for the Swiss workplace are summarised in our white paper.
This project was made possible through the generous financial support of the Ernst Göhner Foundation, the Vontobel Foundation, and Prevention and Health Promotion Canton Zurich, to whom we extend our sincere thanks.
To the study (in German):
To the white paper (in German):
