Infant mental health is an often overlooked and misunderstood subject. Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, 9-15 June, provides an annual opportunity to discuss the importance of supporting babies’ mental health and wellbeing.
Not everyone bonds easily with their baby. Parents who are overwhelmed by trauma, or struggling with mental or physical health difficulties, need support. More than one in ten babies in the UK today are living in fear, confusion and distress. Early intervention to develop healthier relationships can improve a child’s early development which could otherwise have life-long consequences.
Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 hopes to shine a light on gaps in services that support these vulnerable babies and their families. The Parent Infant Foundation has produced a report, ‘Who is holding the baby?’, which provides an up-to-date picture of the growth of specialised parent-infant relationship teams across the UK.
Read report
In addition to our Health Visiting Service, which cares for mothers and their babies from 0-5, we also provide services focused on mental health at this early stage.
In Tower Hamlets, our Bright Beginnings team supports mums who are experiencing low mood from pregnancy through to 12 months after birth.
In Waltham Forest, our Parent and Baby Emotional Wellbeing (PBEW) Service is designed to support the mental wellbeing of parents and foster healthy, secure parent-infant relationships.
The Family Nurse Partnership Service also supports young parents, aged 21 and under, and is available in both boroughs.
If you're expecting a baby and you don’t know about our services, check the webpages above for more information or speak with your GP or midwife.
