A baby’s mental health and emotional wellbeing in the first three years is key to positive outcomes in later childhood and can even influence the adult they become, says a University of Worcester expert.
Denisse Levermore, Course Leader for the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Top-up degree, will be giving her insights at a free public talk, ‘The Emotional World of a Baby’, looking at the science behind how to build a baby’s emotional brain. The talk takes place at The Hive on November 12, 6.30pm-8pm.
“Good infant mental health in the nought to three period promotes positive outcomes during childhood, adolescence and influences the adult we become,” she said. “If we focus on emotional and social development, this period has an impact on how they will form relationships, their interactions with others and understanding and managing their own, and others’, emotions. However, it doesn’t mean that following this period the brain is set, we now know the brain is malleable and adaptable to change until early adulthood.”
Her talk will explore the neuroscience of the infant brain, emotional and social development, how parents can care for themselves, and how to support good infant mental health and wellbeing alongside practical ways to build a baby’s brain.
Ms Levermore is a registered nurse, social worker and family therapy/systemic practitioner. She is currently undertaking a PhD exploring mental health and transition during adolescence, with a focus on the role and impact of relationships.
She says infant mental health is very different to how we would understand mental health in adults. “What we’re developing is a baby’s ability to begin to understand their place in the world and what that means to their parents. If we support that relationship, this forms the basis of good relationships elsewhere and in the future.
Ms Levermore says support for parents, and looking after their mental health too, is key, but adds: “There’s no perfect parent. We’re all looking to get that right, as right as we can, and by building a baby’s brain, supporting good mental health, we hope they get the best start in life and develop into the person they deserve to be.”
Book your place by visiting the ‘Talks and Lectures’ section of The Hive’s what’s on webpage: https://www.thehiveworcester.org/whats-on.html