Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) Services support families experiencing mental health issues relating to pregnancy, childbirth and new parenting. Significant funding has been invested in PMH to give infants the best start in life. In order to identify how best to support practitioners working in PMH, a clear understanding of their existing knowledge and confidence is needed.
This project conducted a survey amongst practitioners working with families of young children in the Hull area. The survey was developed from a framework of key competencies produced by the Association for Infant Mental Health. Fifty-three practitioners responded, most of whom worked in family hubs or specialist PMH teams, while only 1 health visitor and 1 midwife responded. Most respondents reported high confidence in their knowledge and skills to support infant mental health. One area for potential improvement was identifying and supporting parents struggling to bond with their baby.
