Infant mental health

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Infant mental health is a term describing optimal social and emotional development of infants and their families in the first three years of life. Cognitive and physical development may also be considered part of the infant mental health picture.

In the United States, the organization Zero to Three [1] plays an important role in research and advocacy for infants and toddlers.

Worldwide, World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) and its affiliates are active in addressing infant mental health concerns, and work toward ongoing scientific and clinical study of the infant’s development and its impact on later development. The World Association for Infant Mental Health organizes a world congress every other year, and the next congress meets in Yokohama, Japan on August 1st to 5th, 2008. WAIMH's current president is Tuula Tamminen of Finland, and the president of the 2008 Congress Local Organizing Committee is Hisako Watanabe, MD, Ph.D. of Keio University. Contact 2008 WAIMH Local Organizing Committee - e-mail: jimukyoku@waimh-japan.org

These organizations publish newsletters and journals such as "Zero to Three" and "Infant Mental Health Journal" and organize conferences and training events for individuals working with young children and their families.