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YoungMinds calls for baby mental health teams

22 Mar 2004

Britain should set up baby mental health teams in every area according to children's mental health charity YoungMinds.

Babies can develop mental health problems as much as adults and children, but in a very different way. Research strongly suggests that babies need to develop a secure attachment with their primary care-giver, usually their mother, as the basis on which mental health throughout childhood is based. Childhood mental health problems in turn can cause problems in the family and at school.

Dinah Morley, acting director of YoungMinds, said: "People usually go for help with their mental health problems too late. Those involved in services for adults, teenagers, and even young children agree that if only problems were picked up and dealt with at an earlier stage many of the more serious outcomes could have been prevented or minimised with specialist support.

"Research on the infant brain indicates that experiences in the first months and years of life can have a lasting impact on mental health. Brain development appears to be adversely affected by a poor relationship with a primary caregiver which can set the pattern for subsequent cognitive responses. What is needed is a group of specialists, linked to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and in every area dedicated to working with vulnerable new parents and supporting health visitors and GPs to ensure that every baby's mental health is safeguarded.

"We hope our new policy document, 'Mental Health in Infancy', will help persuade policy-makers at national and local level to take action."

(www.youngminds.org.uk, 22 March 2004)

Tags: Talk To Your Baby