Infant mental health

Organizations

The World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) and its partner groups focus on infant mental health globally, advancing both scientific research and clinical work on early development and its long-term effects. WAIMH holds a world congress every two years. In the U.S., Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families is a key research and advocacy organization. It developed the Diagnostic Classification: 0-3 (DC:0-3), later revised as DC:0-3R, and in 2016 released the DC:0-5, which lets mental health professionals diagnose infants, toddlers, and their caregiver relationships when distress and dysfunction indicate a need for intervention. Both Zero to Three and WAIMH rely on empirical studies to support evaluating and treating mental health issues in children who cannot yet speak. Many states have infant mental health groups linked to WAIMH and Zero to Three. These organizations put out newsletters and journals, and run conferences and training for those working with young children and families. The Infant Mental Health Journal, published by Wiley, is owned by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. In Europe, IMH Netherlands built a knowledge and healthcare network for Parent & Infant Mental Health. It offers professional training, an online community, and hybrid care pathways used since 2020 in the Netherlands and nearby areas. A unique feature is turning the infant mental health vision into practical materials and tools for parents.