<\/p>\n
Mental Health Begins in Infancy<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n By Heather Wilson, M.A., Licensed Psychologist-Master, NCSS Early Childhood Support Team Leader<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As we approach National Children\u2019s Mental Health Awareness Day, this is a good time to look at the evidence around supporting healthy development in children, and how parenting activities and styles play a huge role.\u00a0 Parenting is hard, and there are supports in the community that can help.<\/p>\n As a state we are facing challenges of families lacking supports, children getting expelled from multiple child cares, children arriving in preschool with disruptive behavior, the impact of substances, and trauma from separation from parents.\u00a0 The directors of Early Childhood & Family Mental Health across the state always circle back to pregnant parents and infancy, and the shared vision of providing prevention services instead of reacting to crises down the road.\u00a0 Mental health starts in infancy.\u00a0 Wait\u2026what?<\/p>\n For some, the idea of infant mental health conjures up the picture of a baby meeting with a therapist.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did you feel when the rattle was moved out of reach?\u201d the therapist inquires, then jots down the baby\u2019s babbling noises.\u00a0 \u201cI hear you expressing frustration.\u00a0 Let\u2019s do some mindfulness exercises together to help cope with frustration.\u201d\u00a0 This is not quite what we mean.<\/p>\n Mental health refers to a state of wellness (World Health Organization), though many people attach a stigma to mental health and think it only refers to areas of psychological distress.\u00a0 Infant and early childhood mental health is defined by the organization Zero to Three as, \u201cthe developing capacity of a child from birth to 5 years to form close and secure adult and peer relationships; experience, manage and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn.\u201d\u00a0 Infancy and early childhood is the time to focus on prevention and building resilience.<\/p>\n Strategies are aimed to support the intense amount of brain development occurring in young children.\u00a0 The goal is to provide a plethora of experiences through relationships so the young child can develop as many neural pathways as they can.\u00a0 As the child gets older, these neural pathways are pruned to include the most useful connections that will guide them throughout life: when they arrive at child care, when they enroll in school, when they enter adolescence, and when they get to the workforce.<\/p>\n The primary goal of infancy and early childhood is developing a healthy and secure attachment with a primary caregiver.\u00a0 According to psychiatrist and parenting novelist Dr. Daniel Siegel, there are four components needed to develop attachment: being soothed, being seen, being kept safe, and feeling secure.\u00a0 Infants rely on their caregivers to help them regulate, and the shushing and rocking serves a scientific purpose.\u00a0 As infants and toddlers have experiences where they feel safe, secure, seen, and soothed, they can develop a sense of safety in the world.\u00a0 The world is seen as a welcoming place, and they have the ability to use their newfound motor, communication, and cognitive skills to be a part of the world.<\/p>\n Parents and caregivers should look for opportunities to engage in \u201cserve and return\u201d activities.\u00a0 These involve the mutual enjoyment and sharing of materials, images, and sensations.\u00a0 The parent checks in with the baby, responding to the baby\u2019s reaction.\u00a0 Serve and return is a key part of a healthy and strong parent-child relationship.<\/p>\n Within our community, there are individuals stationed to help parents and young children.\u00a0 Some are obvious, like the trusted pediatrician.\u00a0 Others include playgroups, libraries, schools, WIC through the Vermont Department of Health, and home visiting programs.\u00a0 We also have evidence-based prevention models including Head Start, Parents\u00a0as Teachers, and Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting.<\/p>\n While prevention is key, we do have a need for intervention services when families and young children face barriers and develop challenges that impact functioning in the home or community.\u00a0 Intervention is available in a variety of places, and can be accessed by speaking to someone you trust, or through a phone call.<\/p>\n At Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS), we offer trained professionals through the Early Childhood & Family Mental Health program.\u00a0\u00a0 These clinicians provide home visits to address attachment, develop behavior plans, teach development-centered parenting, and refer to community resources for unmet needs.\u00a0 In addition, NCSS offers two types of evidence-based therapy for families.\u00a0 Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is family counseling, and can start with parents and infants to address the impact of traumatic events.\u00a0 Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is family counseling with two-six year olds, which teaches parents play therapy skills to heal problems in the relationship, and effective discipline to help their child cooperate with directions.<\/p>\n Early childhood is an important time for brain development and the establishment of relationships that will impact a child throughout their life, and contribute toward mental health.\u00a0 For more information, please feel free to call the NCSS Parent Child Center at 802-524-6554.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mental Health Begins in Infancy By Heather Wilson, M.A., Licensed Psychologist-Master, NCSS Early Childhood Support Team Leader As we approach National Children\u2019s Mental Health Awareness Day, this is a good time to look at the evidence around supporting healthy development in children, and how parenting activities and styles play a huge role.\u00a0 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