Global Conference on Women’s Mental Health: Call for Abstracts Now Open

‘There is an urgent need to bring together researchers and experts to exchange ideas and identify new pathways – both in science and practice – that can truly improve women’s mental health,’ says Emma Hovén, Director of WOMHER, Uppsala University’s Centre for Women’s Mental Health.

On 26–27 May 2026, Uppsala University will become a global meeting point for researchers and professionals committed to improving women’s mental health. The international conference “Research and Innovation for Action on Women’s Mental Health” will address critical challenges and explore innovative solutions through collaboration across disciplines.

Abstract Submission Open Until 12 January

Researchers worldwide are invited to submit abstracts for presentation. All submissions will be reviewed by the scientific committee, with notifications sent by mid-February. Abstracts can be submitted via the conference website.

Who Should Attend?

The conference welcomes anyone with an interest in women’s mental health, including researchers and PhD students from all scientific disciplines, clinicians and policymakers.

Why This Matters

Women’s mental health is shaped by complex social, biological, and global factors. Addressing these challenges requires cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions. The conference will provide a platform to:
- Present research to an international audience
- Engage in interdisciplinary discussions
- Network with leading experts in psychiatry, sociology, public health, technology, and more

Key Themes

The programme will explore four main themes:
- Women’s Mental Health in the Global Context – How global factors shape mental health and access to care
- Research and Innovation for Action – From AI and digital therapies to implementing research in practice
- Mental Health Disorders Unique to, or More Common Among, Women – Spotlight on postpartum depression, PMDD, and other gender-specific challenges
- Interdisciplinary Approaches to Wicked Problems – Tackling stigma and underdiagnosis through collaboration

International Keynote Speakers

This year’s keynote lineup includes:
- Professor Christina Hoven, Columbia University, US; expertise in psychiatric epidemiology with a focus on disparities, social justice, and marginalised groups
- Professor Birgit Derntl, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany; expertise in hormones, gender, and brain function
- Dr Jerry Guintivano, University of North Carolina, US; expertise in evolutionary biology approaches to mental health and gender research
- Professor Carol Emslie, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK; medical sociologist with expertise on gender and alcohol
- Professor Mark Tomlinson, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; expertise in maternal, child and adolescent mental health and life-course approaches to health and wellbeing
- Professor Madeline Balaam, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; expertise in interaction design focusing on health and wellbeing
- Professor Gavin Doherty, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland – expertise in healthcare technologies and digital health, with a focus on mental health
- Professor Elisabeth Schellekens Dammann, Uppsala University, Sweden; expertise in conceptual art and cultural heritage