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What is Attachment?
Attachment is a universal human experience, and one that is essential for parents, educators, and those working in mental health to understand. But what is it, and what are the attachment styles? The first attachments we experience in life are between us as an infant, and our caregiver. Born secondarily altricial (totally helpless!) human babies need all the help they can get to survive, and as a result, attachments are essential. Through “social releasers” like crying, cuddling, suckling, and later, smiling and seeking proximity to the caregiver, infants promote the attachment, and in return, are protected and nurtured. The responses they receive from their caregiver are crucial as they inform…
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Why Does Paternal Mental Health Matter?
Regardless of how excited a man might be, or how wanted a child is, the transition to fatherhood can be a huge challenge, with poor sleep, increased demand, and an intense sense of responsibility for both their child and their partner. Paternal mental health is frequently overlooked, but is crucial to the wellbeing and development of a child. Let’s imagine a new father. * Please note: I am aware that this article is unfortunately heteronormative in that it focuses exclusively on “paternal” mental health. This is because much of the research relates to men as the partners of new mothers. Parents of all genders can and do suffer mental health…
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Why Does Maternal Mental Health Matter?
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Why Does Maternal Mental Health Matter?
Pregnancy and matrescence (the transition to motherhood) are vulnerable times for women who are subjected to surging hormones, changes in their bodies and roles, and poor sleep. In many ways, it is the perfect melting pot for mental illness; whether the recurrence of an existing condition or a first episode. Motherhood is demanding, and for a depressed, anxious, psychotic, or traumatised mother, the moment-to-moment care of their infant may feel overwhelming. This can have consequences for the child’s development and the mother’s physical and emotional well-being. Let’s imagine a mother and baby. This is Aisha. Aisha would describe herself as generally being “a bit of a worrier”, and is having…
