At the start of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2019, the iHV is delighted to support the launch of PIP UK’s report “Rare Jewels” on Specialised parent-infant relationship teams in the UK – published today, Monday 10 June 2019, at the APPG Conception to Age Two meeting in Parliament.

iHV Director, Dr Cheryll Adams, at launch of PIP UK’s Rare Jewels report at the APPG Conception to Age Two in Parliament

Alongside its focus on specialised teams, the report highlights the important role health visitors play in enabling good IMH:

“Health visitors play an important role in promoting parent-infant relationships as they have the opportunity to work with every family during this important period”.  

“Nice Guidance for postnatal care states that assessment for emotional attachment should be carried out at each postnatal contact and home visits should be used as an opportunity to promote parent- or mother-to-baby emotional attachment”. 

We are particularly pleased to see the value of specialist IMH health acknowledged. We look forward to strengthening this when we publish the findings from our own recent iHV survey into Infant Mental Health later this week.

The report, ‘Rare Jewels’, highlights the shocking lack of mental health provision for children aged 2 and under with data suggesting that 42% of Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) areas in England CAMHS services will not accept referrals for children aged 2 and under.

The report makes several recommendations for local and national decision makers about how they could support the development of specialised provision. These include:

  • Collecting data disaggregated by age to ensure services are accessible to, and accessed by, children of all ages.
  • Ensuring there is clear accountability at a national and local level for commissioning mental health services to meet the needs of all children.
  • Creating a ringfenced transformation budget to support local investment in services for the first 1001 days of life.
  • Setting out clear implementation plans for how commitments to improve mental health provision will be realised for all children, including those 2 and under.

Governments across the UK have made commitments to increase early intervention, to improve children’s mental health and to close inequalities in outcomes.

The iHV supports this report’s call for them to provide focused and determined leadership and the investment required to translate their commitments into a reality to give every baby the best start in life.

Please do share the report with your networks and on any social media platforms using the hashtags #rarejewels #IMHAW19 #healthvisitors #infantmentalhealth.  Please do also link to us using the handle @iHealthVisiting and @earlypotential

PIPUK is pleased to announce that it is now accepting submissions for the UK Infant Mental Health Awards, presented in honour of its 2nd National Week on Infant Mental Health, 12-16 June 2017.

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2017 logo

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2017 logo

Submission forms for the six award categories are now available – Nominations must be received by midnight 20 May 2017.

The theme for this year’s infant mental health awareness week is ‘Begin Before Birth’ to highlight the importance of giving every baby the best possible start in life beginning in pregnancy. They are,  therefore, in particular seeking nominations from individuals, projects and organisations who are focused on pregnancy as a window of change for life chances.

The categories for the Award Ceremony are as follows:

  1. Andrea Leadsom Award for Outstanding contribution to the field of Infant Mental Health: For an exceptional, and inspirational individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of Infant Mental Health nationally.
  1. Analeaf Award for Infant Mental Health Services: For an exceptional Infant Mental Health service provider, who has demonstrated positive practice, and has improved outcomes for both children and, their families.
  1. Infant Mental Health Practitioner: For an exceptional Infant Mental Health practitioner who is innovative in his/her approach to the field of Infant Mental Health, and who continually delivers above, and beyond what is expected.
  1. Locality Award for Infant Mental Health Inclusion: For a Locality / or Trust that has developed an integrated, and inclusive Infant Mental Health service to improve the lives of vulnerable infants, toddlers, and their families.
  1. Infant Mental Health Researcher: For an individual researcher who has made a unique contribution to the growing body of knowledge thorough their research in the field of Infant Mental Health.
  1. People’s Choice Award: Nominations for this award will be made by an individual who has received support and / or treatment from an Infant Mental Health service provider they believe to be of exceptional quality, resulting in a positive experience, and improved wellbeing for their baby, toddler and/or family.

The awards are a key part of the 2nd Infant Mental Health Awareness Week (12-16 June 2017), accompanied by an exciting calendar of events with over 200 partner organisations participating which, in our inaugural year, saw a reach of ten million people engaged. The award will recognise excellence in the field of Infant Mental Health, and showcase examples of best practice, and research.

Nominations close on 20th May 2017.  Nominations will not be received after this date to ensure a fair process and will be facilitated by a selection panel.