A CHILD’S EARLIEST RELATIONSHIPS AFFECT LIFELONG MENTAL HEALTH- Parents and Caregivers Need Enhanced Education and Skill Building

 May is national Mental Health Month and May 9^th is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.  Science has shown there is a critical connection between a child’s earliest relationships and experiences, and his or her lifelong mental health; however most parents and caregivers count only on their intuition in developing a bond with their infant.   A report recently released by the American Academy of Pediatrics-California Chapter 3 and funded by the First 5 Commission of San Diego found that although a strong mental health infrastructure is in place for children 0 through 5 and their families in San Diego County, there is room for improvement. Specifically, more services for the youngest children and their parents are needed to help them become self-sufficient and to thrive in the community.  The report recommends targeted education and treatment services for caregivers, as well as more coordination between the mental health system, preschools, pediatricians, and other programs intended to support young children and their parents.

Infant and early childhood mental health refers to a child’s ability to form and sustain positive relationships; experience, manage and express emotions; and explore and engage with the environment.  Because infants and toddlers develop in the context of their families and close relationships, their own emotional health is tied to the emotional health of their caregivers.  Therefore, parents with untreated depression or substance abuse, and those in relationships with intimate partner violence or who have experienced trauma, can impair the growth of their young children.

“Some parents may need to attend to their own mental health needs so they can be more available to their child,” says Jeffrey Rowe, MD, Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.  “In many cases today, children may be able to qualify for services but their parents do not. More programs are needed that treat the child and the parent at the same time.”

Approximately 10-15% of children from birth to age 5 have emotional or behavioral disturbances. Mental health problems for infants and toddlers may manifest in harder-to-recognize physical and behavioral symptoms, such as poor weight gain, delayed development, inconsolable crying, sleep problems, impulsive behaviors, or paralyzing fears.  Not only is caregiver education needed, but also support for these children in other settings such as in preschools and child care settings. 

“We need to change environments in homes, preschools, schools and child care settings to support early childhood mental health rather than relying solely on traditional mental health services,” said Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, Director of Projects with the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Additional recommendations on how to improve care for children ages 5 and under and their parents or caregivers can be found in the report, entitled “The Commitment to Early Childhood Mental Health Services in San Diego County: Dedication, Vision, Innovation,” which is posted on the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ website at www.aapca3.org.  If you feel that your young child needs mental health services, call First 5 San Diego’s Healthy Development Services program, which provides free developmental checkups for children from birth through 5 years of age, and connects children and families to needed services. Their number is 1-888-5-FIRST-5.