Good mental health starts when we start. UON students champion infant ‘MH’

Giving future generations the best ‘mental health start’ in life is front and centre of one University groups of specialist students.

This week marks Infant Mental Health Awareness Week and earlier this year the University of Northampton’s (UON) first cohort of ‘IMH’ students started their studies.

Infant mental health is sometimes an overlooked topic. But this week provides a prime opportunity to discuss the importance of babies’ mental health and wellbeing and the issues that affect it.

To address the need for more professionals to have extra confidence, knowledge and skills in this vital area, the University of Northampton has created a specific course to equip them, the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Classes are online, and the first cohort of students started their studies earlier this year and are already spotting opportunities to take their virtual learning into real world and impactful practice.

Denisse Levermore (pictured on the left) is a nurse and works and teaches in child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) and wanted to enhance her insight into children and young people’s mental health.

Denisse says: “For CAMHS professionals, attachment is key to understanding the impact of the early years on children and young people’s mental health. Finding a bespoke course like this, that focuses intently on infant mental health is rare and inspiring.

“I’ve completed one module, and all the course content has been interesting and stimulating. We’re a small cohort with different professional backgrounds, which adds extra insight to our discussions. I can already see two very distinct possibilities. The knowledge I’ve gained will be directly useful to my current role and will enhance my teaching and practice. But I want to really drill down into this area and explore research at some point in the future.”

Lara Strangwood works as a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery and adds her take on what attracted her to the course: “I am a qualified midwife and worked in practice for eight years. My main area of interest is working in the community setting, caring for families throughout childbirth, providing continuity of care and building trusting relationships with families.

“I am passionate about providing evidence-based information supporting women and their families to take control of their own birthing situation and parenting experiences to make the right decisions.

“Since becoming UON’s Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) lead, I have learned so much more about relationship building, responsive parenting and infant brain development. I’m fascinated by our earliest experiences and their lifelong impact on our economic, mental, physical and social development.

“I wanted to learn more and more around infant brain development, infant mental health and wellbeing, personally as a mother) and for my students. It is a fascinating subject that everyone should know more about.

“I hope to use the knowledge and skills learnt from the PGCert to support developments in the Midwifery curriculum at UON and in midwifery practice. The more people who know about the importance of this topic, the wider the impact on society.”