Digital Perinatal Bereavement Support Program for Women After Pregnancy Loss

Perinatal loss is a significant life event that can lead to long-term psychological consequences, including prolonged grief, depression, and anxiety. Despite the high prevalence of these outcomes, access to structured psychological support remains limited, particularly in scalable and accessible formats.

This study investigates the effectiveness of a digitally delivered perinatal bereavement support program developed to provide structured emotional and psychological support for women following pregnancy loss. The intervention was administered over a five-week period and included components targeting grief processing, emotional expression, and adaptive coping strategies.

Participants were evaluated at multiple time points, including baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention, and follow-up assessments at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Psychological outcomes were assessed using validated measurement tools.

The primary aim of the study is to assess changes in psychological outcomes over time and to determine the sustainability of intervention effects during the follow-up period. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting digital mental health interventions and offers insights into scalable support mechanisms for perinatal bereavement.

Inclusion criteria

• Women aged 18 years and older who have experienced perinatal loss within the past two months; ability to read and write at a basic level; ability to speak and understand Turkish; access to a digital platform (internet-enabled device); and no history of previous live birth. Provision of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

History of a previous perinatal loss; presence of any uncontrolled psychiatric disorder; presence of communication impairments (cognitive, auditory, or visual); experiencing another major grief event (e.g., divorce, death) within the past year; or receiving any psychosocial support within the past year.

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