Introduction: Perinatal mental disorders have a considerable impact on mothers, infants, and the overall well-being of society. The experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) addressing these challenges are under-researched. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to perinatal mental health care at the patient, family, and societal levels in the UAE. Methods: This qualitative research utilized a descriptive qualitative approach, gathering data through three focus group discussions and 28 individual interviews with 43 HCPs from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain between May and November 2023. The data were analyzed thematically using the MATRix framework, focusing on barriers and facilitators to perinatal mental health (PMH) care at the levels of the patient, family, and society. Results: Key barriers identified included patient-level fear of stigma, family-level low mental health literacy and denial, and societal-level cultural taboos. Facilitators involved patients’ psychological readiness to seek help, strong family and spousal support, and culturally ingrained postpartum care practices such as the traditional 40-day care period. Discussion: Addressing PMH requires multi-level strategies, including family-focused mental health literacy interventions, public campaigns to reduce stigma, and policies supporting culturally sensitive postpartum care. This study offers context-specific insights that can be applied to diverse cultural populations. Plain Language Summary: Mental health problems during pregnancy and after birth can affect mothers, babies, and families, yet many women do not receive the support they need. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), little is known about how healthcare professionals experience providing perinatal mental health care (mental health during pregnancy and the year after birth). This study explored what helps or prevents women from accessing this care. Researchers spoke with 43 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain through focus groups and individual interviews. Their responses were analysed to identify key challenges and supportive factors at the level of the woman, her family, and wider society. Healthcare professionals reported that fear of stigma and being judged often prevents women from seeking help. Families may lack awareness or deny the existence of mental health problems, while cultural taboos in society further discourage open discussion. At the same time, positive factors were identified. Women were more likely to seek support when they felt emotionally ready, had supportive partners and families, and benefited from traditional postpartum practices such as the 40-day care period. These findings highlight the need for action at multiple levels, including improving mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and providing culturally sensitive care to better support women in the UAE. Keywords: social determinants, perinatal mental health, healthcare professionals, qualitative research, barriers, facilitators
ElKhalil et al. (Mon,) studied this question.