An article in
Nursery World highlighted the need for all early years professionals, councils, schools and members of the public to take responsibility for promoting positive mental health.
A guide,
Fundamental Health, published by the Local Government Information Unit's Children's Services Network (CSN) also noted how there needs to be a better understanding of mental health issues. Phil Jones, CSN policy analyst said, "It's everyone's business, but we also need positive social attitudes which support work to ensure all children and young people are mentally 'healthy'".
The importance of awareness of the issues was also underlined by an early years consultant, Linda Pound. She noted that people underestimate the impact of things on a child, and that not everyone realises they experience the same emotions as adults.
Early intervention was also outlined in the article as crucial for children's emotional well-being. Well-trained health visitors who could spot a problem between a parent and child, and early years pracititioners who are trained to observe are both important according to Marie Zaphiriou Woods, from the Anna Freud Centre.
Woods was quoted in the article and said, "It is terribly difficult for parents to admit their child is not developing as they wished. But often there is the problem of not knowing what 'normal' is - are they normal problems for an infant or is something not right? That is why training and assessment is essential."
The CSN recommended some basic policy changes including:
- improving intervention at the earliest possible stage
- ensuring that parents have the confidence to ask for help
- promoting multi-level, multi-agency approaches to mental health issues
(Nursery World, 28.02.08)
By Barbara Herts, chief
executive of mental health charity YoungMinds.
When people talk about healthy babies and
toddlers it is generally their physical needs that are focused
on, but their mental health and emotional well-being is
so important in these early years. Nearly all mental health
difficulties are identified in early childhood, which is
why we must give this issue the attention it deserves.
Although babies and toddlers may not be able
to talk about their feelings as older children and teenagers
can, they are quick to pick up the mood of those who care
for them and they show their feelings in other ways, such
as becoming clingy or fretful or withdrawing altogether.
Research strongly suggests that the way the brain develops
is linked to relationships formed in the early years, most
often with the primary care giver. Although relationships
later in life are also hugely influential and important
we cannot underestimate those very first attachments.
The vulnerability of babies and toddlers to
mental health problems is becoming increasingly accepted,
yet still many child mental health specialists do not see
the under-five age group as a priority when it comes to
providing mental health services. Very young children do
not often have obvious symptoms and are, therefore, easier
to overlook, which is not an acceptable way of dealing with
the issue. The lack of training for child psychiatrists
and other child and adult mental health services specialists
in dealing with the specific needs of young children is
partly responsible for this. This is something that the
government, as well as wider society, needs to make a priority
if there is to be a greater understanding of the impact
of mental health in children under five.
Here at YoungMinds we campaign tirelessly
for this greater understanding, to both the decision makers
and the public, as well as providing support services for
parents and professionals working with children and young
people. YoungMinds fully welcomes the new guidance on the
children's mental health grant and the new target regarding
early identification of mental health problems. We believe
it is our duty as a nation to recognise the importance of
good mental health in babies and toddlers and nurture this
right from the start so that they can grow up to be strong,
confident adults.
(Under 5, April 2006)
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,
22.03.04)
The Centre for Child Mental Health (CCMH)
The CCMH aims to promote positive social change through disseminating the latest
research in child, parent and family mental health and by offering first-class
continuing professional development.
For more information visit www.childmentalhealthcentre.org/
YoungMinds
The children's mental health charity.
www.youngminds.org.uk
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