Growing number of babies display emotional problems

A GROWING number of babies and toddlers are presenting with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties according to psychologists operating a unique service for infant mental health.

Problems include aggression in toddlers or babies who appear withdrawn and lifeless and who are not meeting their social and emotional development milestones.

Catherine Maguire, a senior clinical psychologist and infant mental health specialist, said there are “constant” referrals to the service that operates in north Cork, involving the Health Service Executive Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology Service and an early intervention team. Premature babies or babies who underwent trauma at birth are regularly referred.

However, referrals are not confined to any particular social class, said Ms Maguire.

“They are across the board. These difficulties can occur in any social setting. It can be very hard for parents to identify the baby’s difficulties and that’s where our skills can come in.”

Ms Maguire’s colleague Rochelle Matacz said babies referred to the mental health service included those with difficulties sleeping, irritable babies, those who appeared withdrawn and who had appeared to “shut down”.

Ms Maguire said it was important to recognise the symptoms, and the earlier, the better.

“The hope is that if you see people young, you won’t have to see them again,” she said. Members of the infant health service visit parent and baby in the home, in their natural surroundings, and observe their interaction and their relationship.

“It’s important to recognise the signs, in babies they are often subtle,” said Ms Maguire.

“They may be very quiet, not cooing, with a poor range of vocalisations, and while they may have met their physical development milestones, they may not have met the social and emotional ones. This may be an indication of stress in their environment or in their relationships.”

Following observations in the home, using a model of assessment and intervention, the clinicians work to improve parent and child relationships.

The service, involving a multidisciplinary team, is confined to north Cork where it started four years ago, but Ms Maguire said the hope is that it can be rolled out nationally.

“The hope is that we’ll role it out in line with the expansion of primary care. We need a model in the maternity hospitals. We need a national infant mental health training model at policy level,” said Ms Maguire.