Call for Abstracts
The International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health has some exciting news to share in September of 2026 we will be hosting the conference in Cape Town, South Africa. This is a first in the society’s history to host on the African continent.
I am Lavinia Lumu, and I will be your conference chair and I’m also the current president of the society and would like to use this opportunity to invite you all.
We are open for abstracts so whether you’re a clinician, a researcher, or any other healthcare providers who would like to share and engage an exchange in improving Perinatal mental health, please do share your abstracts and come and join us. Let’s strive to improve Perinatal mental health for all.
Our theme for the conference will be Ubuntu, which means humanity in Isizulu. Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu – I Am Because. I am because we are, we are one, we are interconnected, and we all want to strive to improve Perinatal mental health for all. So come join us.
Abstracts may be submitted in the following themes and categories:
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Preconception, Perinatal and Early Postnatal Interventions
- Early Pregnancy Loss and Early Neonatal Death
- Fathers’ Perinatal Mental Health
- Prevention of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders -
Diversity, Rights, and Global Inclusion in Perinatal Mental Health
- Sexual and Gender Minorities
- Perinatal Refugee and Immigrant Women’s Health
- Reproductive Mental Health Forensics -
Systems of Care/Policy and Advocacy
- Mother-Baby Units
- Advocacy and Policy in Maternal Mental Health
- Perinatal Mental Health in Resource-Limited Settings -
Neuroscience, Treatment, and Innovation
- Perinatal Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Trends in Perinatal Mental Health
- Perinatal Psychotherapy
- Novel Interventions in Perinatal Mental Health - Early Career Perinatal Mental Health Research
- Marcé Regional Groups’ Symposia
- Other
Abstract Submission Guidelines
All abstracts must be submitted online via the website. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered. Submissions will undergo peer review by the Scientific Committee. Kindly note that the Committee reserves the right to reassign an abstract to a more appropriate category, regardless of the preference indicated during submission.
Abstract Deadlines
- The deadline for the submission of pre-conference workshop abstracts is 31 November 2025 (Extended).
- The deadline for the submission of oral- and poster abstracts is 28 February 2026.
- The deadline for the submission of symposia abstracts is 28 February 2026.
- All submissions received will be acknowledged, and authors will be sent acceptance or rejections letters by 15 May 2026.
- All presenting authors must be fully registered delegates by 30 July 2026.
Abstract Structure
- Abstracts must be submitted in English only.
- The abstract title should be written in sentence case and must not exceed 25 words.
- The body of the abstract should be written in paragraph style and must not exceed 350 words. Abstracts must be submitted in sentence case; submissions in ALL CAPS will not be considered.
- The oral- or poster abstract should be structured under the following sub-headings: Background, Methodology, Results and Conclusion.
- The pre-congress workshop abstract should be structured under the following sub-headings: Background, Objectives, Methods and Conclusion.
- Tables and figures are not permitted.
- Provide the full name, surname and affiliation of all authors, listing the presenting author first. Do not include qualifications. Ensure that all authors have given permission to be listed on the abstract submission.
- Abstracts that do not adhere to the specific format will not be published.
- Ensure that all required information on the online abstract submission form is completed accurately.
- All accepted abstracts will be published without further editing.
Presenters Responsibilities
- The person submitting the abstract is considered the presenting author, and will be corresponding author for all correspondence.
- In case of an emergency, an alternative presenter may be nominated to take the presenting authors place.
- Presenting authors are responsible for their own registration fees. Accepted abstracts will be included in the conference programme only once registration and full payment have been completed by the above mentioned date.
- Proofread your abstract carefully for spelling, grammar and facts before submission, as all content will be published as received.
Notification of Abstract Review Outcome
- All eligible abstracts will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee.
- The corresponding author will be informed via e-mail of the outcome of the abstract review.
- While presenters may indicate a preference for an oral presentation, poster presentation, or pre-conference workshop presentation, the Scientific Committee reserves the right to determine the final presentation format.
Early Career Presenters Prizes
Prizes will be awarded for the best abstract presentations by Early Career Presenters at the main networking evening. The Early Career Prize is open to individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Student / Trainee - Eligible
- Registrar / Resident / Intern - Eligible
- Fellow - Within 5 years post-qualification
- Researcher / Academic - Within five years of completing their highest qualification or holding a junior academic position (e.g. postdoctoral fellow, junior lecturer)
- Clinician - Recently qualified or in the early stages of clinical practice (excludes consultants and senior roles)
- Allied Health Professional - In the early stages of their professional career
- Lived Experience Advocate / Peer Support Worker - Recently active in the field or presenting for the first time at a conference
