There is a public health crisis of untreated mental health concerns across the lifespan that predated and has been further exacerbated by the recent pandemic. One of the most vulnerable and underserved populations is infants and young children. Addressing the mental health needs of infants and young children is a proactive approach to altering the mental health trajectory beginning in early development when neural pathways for the promotion of emotion, attention and behavior regulation and healthy relational capacities are most transformable. This Center focuses on Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and integrating research to inform practice and policy, specialized professional development, provision of consultation across service sectors, and campus, community and statewide outreach.
Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the occurrence and impact of child maltreatment with children under one year of age experiencing the highest rate of maltreatment (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2021). There has been increased recognition of significant mental health disturbances in infants and young children which may be related to trauma, relational concerns or other factors. These include mood and anxiety disorders and disorders of feeding, sleep, sensory, attention and behavior regulation. Prevalence studies show very young children experience significant mental health problems at the same rate as older school age children (i.e., 16 to 21%, Egger & Angold, 2006) but are far less likely to receive care (HRSA, National Survey of Children’s Health, 2020). Further, rates of expulsion from Early Care and Education settings due to severe behaviors occurs at a rate three times that of school age children and adolescents (Gilliam, 2005; Irwin-Vitela, 2010). Also of concern are increasing rates of depression and co-occurring stressors and mental health disorders among mothers in pregnancy and postpartum. Currently 1 in 8 women report symptoms of postpartum depression (CDC, 2020) with higher risk conferred for those from minority ethnic/racial communities or experiencing severe stressors including poverty and interpersonal violence (Bauman, Ko, Cox et al., 2020; Chazen-Cohen & Woolverton, 2009).
The field of Infant Mental Health has generated theory, empirical studies, reliable and valid screening and assessment tools for early identification and evaluation, a widely used diagnostic nosology (DC:0-5), evidence-based treatment approaches, and professional practice guidelines (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). Application of Infant Mental Health knowledge and culturally sensitive, relationship-based and reflective practices supports the development of healthy attachment relationships and helps to inoculate parents and young children who have experienced trauma and/or are living in poverty from the impact of toxic stress.
Wisconsin has an imperative need for professionals informed by the field of Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health including mental health professionals with specialized training in evaluating and treating mental health disorders of infancy and early childhood. Furthermore, public health, home visiting and early childhood programs need parent-infant and early childhood mental health consultants to support their work with families and young children at-risk. With early consultation, evaluation and intervention, challenges that emerge early in life can be ameliorated before they become more serious disorders.