Question reference: S5W-35368
- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 19 February 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to raise awareness of the importance of infant mental health and what parents and carers can do to support the mental health of their babies and young children.
Answer
We are launching a campaign on 23 February 2021 to promote awareness of infant mental health and encourage parents and carers to learn more about the ways that their interactions with their child can support babies and infants’ brain development. The campaign which will link to resources and information for parents and carers on the Parent Club website’s Wellbeing for Wee Ones hub. The hub contains explanations of the science behind the campaign which have been developed in conjunction with experts across Scotland.
This web content also provides new ideas and tips on simple things parents can do to help baby’s brains grow and give parents greater confidence to further support their child. As well as raising awareness of the emotional wellbeing of babies and infants, the aim of the campaign is to reassure families that they really are doing more than they think by communicating and being responsive to the cues of the infant.
This campaign sits alongside the work of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board which are overseeing the expansion of mental health service provision for women, infants and families. This includes an investment to establish Infant Mental Health services across Scotland which is moving into its third year of development and supports infants and their families where specialist support is needed.
The infant mental health campaign will launch in the morning of the 23 rd of February online and across social media. Once the campaign is launched, parents and carers can explore more at ParentClub.Scot/Wellbeing.