Integrating infant mental health practice models in nursing

Abstract

Problem: During the first years of life, the brain is developing rapidly and is especially vulnerable to the effects of trauma and or stress. Early exposure to such early trauma or stress predisposes young children to mental health problems. The practice of infant mental health (IMH) focuses on preventing negative mental health outcomes in infancy and toddlerhood. Currently, IMH is not standard practice in nursing. To enhance IMH in nursing, this manuscript provides an overview of IMH practice models, discusses nursing implications of each model and presents a model for integrating IMH into nursing practice. Methods: A scoping review was conducted with a literature search utilizing the keywords "infant mental health" AND "models of care" in the PubMed and CINHAL databases from 2002 to 2018. Findings: Twenty of the publications retrieved met search criteria. Among the 20 articles, 10 addressed clinical-based content related to IMH practice and 10 addressed nonclinical-based content associated with IMH educational training, policy development, or system-based models of care.Conclusions: Nurses are well positioned to impact IMH. The model presented provides the nursing process as a practical framework for the integration of IMH in nursing practice that can be expanded upon as IMH evolves.

Meanings of nurses’ role in Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Centers

“…In that regard, the literature points out that children and adolescents are vulnerable to the effects of trauma and/or stress early in their development process, predisposing to mental health problems. Studies point out that the impacts of external conditions influence the neurodevelopment of this population, contributing to mental illness and may impact the neglect of their own desires and desires ( 12 - 13 ) . Thus, corroborating the data from our study, the view constructed for this population needs to consider their development processes and insertions in different life contexts.…”

Infant and early childhood teleconsultation and training: Program description and feasibility outcomes from a statewide implementation

“…For example, while social workers are the most common provider of mental health services nationally (Shea et al, 2016), very few social work bachelor's, master's or PhD programs include formal coursework or specialized training in infant mental health (Walsh et al, 2021). The same is true for nursing preparation (Gordon et al, 2020) and early care and education training (Hemmeter et al, 2008), which also tend to lack preservice training in IECMH concepts. The shortage of formalized training in IECMH in many disciplines likely contributes to a lack of confidence in addressing early childhood mental health within professionals' respective disciplines.…”

The family myth in nursing care for children in psychological distress

“…Through these strategies, children are recognized as a priority, as they are one of the most vulnerable groups in humanity ( 5 ) . Their dependence on adults, especially their families, requires that the perspective of comprehensive health care guarantees well-established links between the child, the family and the professional responsible ( 5 , 27 ) . By acting in this way, nurses enable the transformation of the subject, achieved by building a new experience of themselves, taking into account the family myth in which they are inserted ( 24 ) .…”