Making the case for dedicated infant mental health services

SUMMARY

This paper seeks to demonstrate the case for establishing dedicated Infant Mental Health Services. It is argued that the 0–3 age-group is not well served by the current arrangement for the provision of mental health services along child/adult lines, and falls between these two stools. It is further argued that priority should be given to services for this group because of the immense potential of early intervention programmes. The nature and ethos of such services are discussed, and it is suggested that the time is now ripe for Infant Mental Health to be given institutional recognition as a distinct specialism in its own right.