Friday, 23 October 2026
Eileen Perrins, Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Lead at the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), shares her experience presenting ADBB research updates at the 19th World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) World Congress in Canada.
This October, Toronto, Canada were hosts of the 19th World Association of Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) World Congress. The event's theme was "Harmony in Diversity: Nurturing the Youngest Minds Around the World," and invited infant and early mental health professionals from across the globe to come together and exchange cutting-edge research, lived experiences, clinical and practice insights, and cultural perspectives to foster collaboration and development on an international stage.
Excitingly, Eileen Perrins, Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Lead at the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), and Martha Sercombe, Specialist Health Visitor for Perinatal Mental Health, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, were invited to join Jennifer Holly at The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to present on “Introducing ADBB within health-visiting teams in the UK: Learning from a two-phase trial.”
The symposium, focusing on the use of the ADBB tool in identifying sustained social infant withdrawal, also included an excellent presentation on “ADBB in context: Perspectives from Sub Saharan Africa” by Dr Anusha Lachman, Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University.
The presentations generated lively exchanges and discussions in the room about how ADBB can support professionals to enhance their confidence in supporting babies and their families. We felt privileged to be able to engage and learn alongside other ADBB practitioners from across the world.
In addition, having the opportunity to share with colleagues on a global platform about the impactful work that health visitors do in the UK was a valuable opportunity to showcase the profession and learn from others.
A key reflection from this congress was a renewed appreciation of the expertise, skills and support that health visitors in the UK provide to babies, children and families. Hearing about approaches from around the world reinforced the strength of our proportionate universalism model and the breadth of knowledge within the profession.
We were also keen to share the next stages of our partnership work with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, including the launch of the UK ADBB Health Visiting Community of Practice in November 2026.
Martha Sercombe shared some thoughts about the Congress and the ADBB tool:
“Being part of this symposium has been a real privilege and a joy. It has been wonderful to share reflections from my journey through Phase 2 of the ADBB study alongside such passionate and inspiring colleagues, all united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for babies.
"At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful belief: every baby deserves to be seen, heard and understood, especially those who may not have the words, or the means, to ask for our attention. Being involved in this study has deepened my understanding of infant behaviour and communication, strengthened my clinical practice, and reinforced just how much we can learn when we slow down, observe, and truly listen to the baby.
"What has made this experience particularly special is the opportunity to learn, reflect and share with colleagues who are equally committed to giving babies a greater voice. There is real joy in coming together with a shared purpose and recognising that, through our collective learning and compassion, we can make a meaningful difference to the lives of babies and their families.
"Ultimately, this work reminds me that every baby has something to communicate, and it is our responsibility to notice, understand and respond. Because even the quietest baby has a voice, and every baby deserves someone who takes the time to listen.”
Martha Sercombe