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A Preventive Social Media Intervention for Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Regional, Rural, and Remote
Kacey Jane Lynch1, Adrian Brian Royce Shatte2,3, Jessica Muller1,3,4
1Department of Psychology, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland, 4814, Australia, 61 74781 6354.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|June 10, 2026
Summary
This study co-designed a social media intervention framework to address perinatal mental health needs in rural Australia. Findings show social media can support perinatal mental wellbeing if designed with community input and safety measures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Digital Health
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Perinatal depression and anxiety affect 1 in 5 women globally, with higher burdens in rural areas due to limited access to culturally safe services.
- Prevention is key, potentially reducing illness by 40%, but digital interventions often lack co-design with underserved populations.
- Regional, rural, and remote communities face unique barriers to perinatal mental health support, including isolation and workforce shortages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify mental health needs of perinatal women in regional, rural, and remote areas.
- To co-design a framework for a preventive social media intervention tailored to these communities.
- To use Northern Queensland, Australia, as a case study for developing a platform-informed intervention.
Main Methods:
- A participatory co-design approach involved 26 perinatal women and 8 mental health professionals from regional, rural, and remote Northern Queensland.
- Focus groups and interviews were conducted, supplemented by consultation with a community advisory group.
- Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and a needs-affordances framework.
Main Results:
- Five core needs were identified: social connection, personalized care, empowering information, place-based/culturally safe support, and accessible digital formats.
- Social media shows potential for peer connection and psychoeducation but requires mitigation of risks like misinformation and social comparison.
- Prototype design guidelines were developed, detailing content, features, tone, and delivery for a preventive intervention.
Conclusions:
- A co-designed, place-based framework for a social media intervention was developed for perinatal mental health in underserved communities.
- Social media is a viable platform for preventive perinatal mental health support when community needs and platform affordances guide design, with risks mitigated.
- This study offers a replicable methodology for co-designing culturally relevant digital mental health interventions for vulnerable populations.
