College Report CR238 - Infant and early childhood mental health - the case for action - October 2023

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn

College Report CR238 argues that the first five years of life, including the pre-birth period, are pivotal for protecting infants and young children from future mental health conditions. It highlights widespread support gaps affecting babies, under-5s, and their parents, linking untreated problems to preventable suffering, long-term impacts, and economic costs. The report calls on governments to prioritise early mental health and wellbeing through new comprehensive neighbourhood services, outlines evidence-based interventions, and sets nine recommendations to close treatment and prevention implementation gaps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages97

Reading Time4 h 4 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

About the report

Executive summary

The importance of childhood early years

Aim of this report

Early years mental health treatment, prevention and promotion

Introduction

Public perception

Rationale

Prevalence and nature of mental health conditions in infants and young children

Risk and protective factors

Public mental health interventions for infants and children under 5 years

Primary prevention

Secondary prevention

Group-based interventions

Provision, services, and implementation gap

Structure of services and pathways to intervention

Treatment gap

Prevention and promotion gap

Examples of good practice

Lived experience case example

Training

Role of psychiatrists

Training recommendations

Conclusions

References

Appendix

CR 238 Infant and early childhood mental health: the case for action October 2023 COLLEGE REPORT Endorsement and support This report has been endorsed by the following organisations: Additionally, this report has received support from the following organisations: ● Association of Directors of Public Health ● Maternal Mental Health Alliance ● PEDAL ● Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ● Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health ● School and Public Health Nurses Association ● UNICEF UK How to cite this publication: Royal College of Psychiatrists (2023) College Report CR238 – Infant and early childhood mental health: the case for action © 2023 The Royal College of Psychiatrists Front cover illustration: © 2023 Gemma Mul reany College reports and position statements constitute College policy and have been sanctioned by the College via the Policy and Public Affairs Committee (PPAC) . The Royal College of Psychiatrists is a charity registered in England and Wales (228636) and in Scotland (SC038369) . Contents Foreword 4 About the report 5 Executive summary 8 The importance of childhood early years 8 Aim of this report 8 Early years mental health treatment, prevention and promotion 9 The implementation gap and required actions 9 Recommendations 10 Introduction 12 Public perception 12 Rationale 13 Prevalence and nature of mental health conditions in infants and young children 17 Risk and protective factors 22 Risk factors 22 Higher-risk groups 28 Protective factors 29 Public mental health interventions for infants and children under 5 years 30 Primary prevention 31 Secondary prevention (treatment of mental health conditions in infantsand young children) 36 Group-based interventions 41 Provision of early years/public mental health interventions 44 Structure of services and pathways to intervention 47 Public mental health implementation gap 51 Treatment gap 51 Prevention and promotion gap 52 Factors contributing to the mental health implementation gap 54 Current early years/public mental health policy context 56 Proposed actions to address the public mental health implementation gap for infantsand young children 61 Examples of good practice 63 Lived experience case example 68 Training 71 Role of psychiatrists 71 Suggested adaptations of adult mental health provision for parents of babies and young children 74 Training for psychiatrists and professionals from different sectors 74 Training recommendations 77 Conclusions 78 References 79 Appendix 97 Foreword The first five years of life, as well as the pre-birth period and even the time before conception, are crucial to a child’s development and to protecting them from future mental health conditions. All of society has a critical role to play in this, which includes securing children’s positive relationships and supporting their social emotional and cognitive development. Ensuring the home environment is free from stress and that children receive the love, attention and care they need is key to protecting their mental health, including in those with a genetic predisposition to illness. By supporting parents and young children atthe earliest opportunity, we can prevent many mental health conditions from becoming established and continuing into adulthood. This must include the mental health of parents and carers as well. Unfortunately, most babies, under 5s and their parents do not receive the support they need. This results in preventable suffering across the whole population, with negative impacts that can last throughout a person’s lifetime. Many economic costs come along with this too, as children can fail to achieve their potential or may not become the productive, functioning adults they otherwise would have been. Lack of intervention to treat or prevent mental health conditions also breaches a child’s right to the best possible mental health und

FAQs

Why does the report emphasise the earliest years, including the pre-birth period?

The report states that the first five years of life, alongside the pre-birth period and even the time before conception, are crucial for development and for protecting children from future mental health conditions.

What problem does the report identify regarding current support for babies and under-5s?

It reports that most babies and under-5s, along with their parents, do not receive the support they need, leading to preventable suffering with effects that can last throughout a person’s lifetime.

What actions and recommendations does the report propose?

The report calls on governments to prioritise mental health and wellbeing for young children by rolling out comprehensive services in every neighbourhood and region, and it presents evidence-based interventions and nine recommendations to bridge current treatment and prevention gaps.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn