Promoting Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing: Early Relationships, Family Support and Professional Practice

This informative and accessible text invites readers to engage with the latest developments and debates in the field of infant and family mental health and wellbeing from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Bringing together a rich collection of knowledge and experience, unique insights are provided into aspects of family life, from attachment, attunement and bonding to therapeutic interventions and compassion. Each chapter shines a light on the importance of respectful early interventions and provides ethical and evidence-based strategies to promote healthy development and to empower parents and caregivers to support their child's (and their own) emotional and psychological needs. Spotlights on research and practice, reflective questions and case studies weave throughout to further consolidate knowledge and to bring theory to life.

Critically reflecting on current policy and practice, this book advocates for an inclusive approach and underscores the significance of early experiences in shaping a child's mental health and overall development. It will be key reading for early childhood students, educators, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in supporting families during the crucial early years.

Dr Helen Simmons is Course Leader for the MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing, and a Senior Lecturer in Education at The University of Northampton, England. Helen is Co-Vice Chair for Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy for the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN), a Trustee Board Member for The Association for Infant Mental Health (AiMH) and a Doctor of Education. Her teaching, research and publications centre on early childhood, and infant and family mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on the sociology of childhood, motherhood and parenting, and the promotion of a critically reflective early childhood workforce.

Dr Robin Sturman-Coombs is a Senior Social Work Academic and registered Social Worker with Social Work England and the British Association of Social Workers. Before entering academia, he gained extensive experience working in Child Protection and Safeguarding, managing complex cases from referral through to initial court hearings. Robin is passionate about teaching and committed to enhancing student learning and development in higher education. His dedication to social work fuels his growing interest in how higher education institutions prepare students to apply intuitive reasoning in social work practice. He has a strong focus on attachment, bonding and relationships, teaching a diverse range of students from foundation degree to master’s level. An advanced trainer in fostering and adoption, Robin has published widely on topics related to attachment, research and his doctoral thesis.