Thinking about parents and infants – finding a home for perinatal and infant psychiatry

Abstract

Objectives: To describe current issues facing the field of perinatal and infant psychiatry, the issues involved in developing service models and greater awareness of the area in mental health service strategic development. To describe contemporary approaches working to integrate perinatal and infant models with a focus on early-in-life intervention and prevention. Conclusions: Perinatal and infant psychiatry has ongoing issues in clarifying the location of services and their models of care with a lack of clear higher level governance. It remains a vital area for improving the mental health of both carers and infants and child development.