Infant/Child Mental Health

This article states signs of anxiety in children, how it develops, types of anxiety, and techniques to support a child with anxiety.

This article outlines the 5 major important aspects that play a large role in infant and children's healthy brain development.

Attachment is the emotional relationship between a baby or child and their caregiver. Read about different types of attachment that a baby or child might develop.

Learn how to effectively foster and promote a secure of attachment pattern between you and your baby or child. Also learn how to provide experiences that create trust by making your infant and child feel understood and comforted.

Babies are also born with attachment-based behaviours (crying) that cue their caregiver when they are in distress and need them close. Learn how the baby’s cry and the caregiver’s response to the cry develops the attachment relationship.

Learn how sleep improves brain function and mental health and how much sleep your child needs each night.

Find out how much screen time your child should have each day and how screen time affects your child’s health and wellbeing. Spending too much time in front of a screen can negatively impact your child's physical and mental health.

Spending too much time in front of a screen can negatively impact your child's physical and mental health.

As a parent, you are in a powerful and unique position to decide how your child eats every day. You also have the power to role model healthy behaviour and attitudes around eating, body image, and lifestyle choices.

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, nervousness or unease. It is a normal part of life, and many anxieties are a part of growing up and usually pass.

There are physical and behavioural symptoms associated with anxiety. Children and teenagers may express anxiety differently – these are the symptoms to look for.

There are six main types of anxiety disorders. A health-care provider will only consider diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias or social anxiety disorder if a child has experienced signs and symptoms for at least six months.

Sadness in response to big changes or losses can be normal, but it can be a sign of depression if it lasts for weeks to months and begins to interfere with everyday activities. A number of risk factors contribute to depression, including biological, psychological, and social factors.

Symptoms of depression in children and teens can include emotional, cognitive, behavioural and physical symptoms. The physical symptoms of depression are similar in teenagers and children; however, teens tend to have different cognitive and behavioural symptoms.

Self-harm can include cutting, burning or hitting oneself to relieve emotional pain. Not everyone who self-harms has thoughts of suicide. If you learn that your child is harming themselves, talk to them about any stressful events and their impact on them.

The foundations of a sound mental health are built early in life. Early experiences shapes a child's relationship with their parents, caregivers, peers and teachers. These early experiences interact with genes to shape the the development of their brain. This video discusses this development, disruptions to children's development and potential lifelong implications.

This video introduces psychology, what it means and where it started. The video speaks to the science behind psychology and some key names in the evolution of psychology. 

In this video, an explanation is provided on the importance educating mental health in schools, to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase the understanding on how to seek help effectively. 

This video speaks to the importance of mental health and how a child's environment plays a significant role in their well-being. 

In this video, an explanation is provided on the importance educating mental health in schools, to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and increase the understanding on how to seek help effectively. 

Provides various lesson plans in supporting students with mental health issues.

This resource provides a few ideas in supporting children's mental wellness!

A list of recommended books that lends to nurturing social and emotional skills for a child's early years.