What are the key barriers & facilitators to implementing & engaging with toddler parenting programmes? We're working on a qualitative evaluation of 'Incredible Years Toddler' 👶 in Bradford to help work that out. We're already analysing our interview data, so look out for our findings!

“Postnatal depression is far more common than many people realise and can have a devastating impact on mothers, babies and families if left untreated.” Dr Trudi Seneviratne, Royal College of Psychiatrists Read more: www.irvinetimes.com/news/nationa...

But for this to work, we must keep parents at the heart. Services only make a difference if they’re accessible, welcoming, and rooted in relationships. #BestStart #FamilyHubs #HomeStartUK #EarlyYears #FamilySupport www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

📢Calling clinicians working in #perinatal mental health settings.. Can you spare a few mins to help with research for a Clinical Psychology thesis? All you have to do is share your views & experience of parent-infant relationships assessment in perinatal settings. More info: bit.ly/4lTkSqS

New report 📢 We've also published a feasibility study looking at the Southwark Fathers Group, an intervention developed by @lb-southwark.bsky.social that aims to support fathers to be more engaged in their children's lives and in CSC involvement 👨‍👧 📝 By Anna Freud 📄 tinyurl.com/kjjc84vz

The Celebrating Qualitative Research Conference 2025 is taking place next week and there's still time to register 😀 One of the organising team members, @claunader.bsky.social, is one of our wonderful HRC Postdoctoral Fellows www.york.ac.uk/business-soc...

Its Infant Mental Health Awareness Week & we're asking policymakers, commissioners & service planners, 'Who is holding the baby?' We're stating the week at 1pm today with a webinar to launch our new #Whoisholdingthebaby report. Last tickets👉 bit.ly/43OF71S #IMHAW2025

Spending time together in green spaces can positively influence adult #mentalhealth and #InfantMentalHealth, and nature-based interventions can help facilitate this 🌿🌳🍃 We are excited to be in the final stages of writing our Scoping Review during #InfantMentalHealthAwareness week. Coming soon! 🎉

Today we've launched new research which shows a growing number of parent-infant relationship teams across the UK. But in many areas, specialist support is still not available. Find out more & help us ask #Whoisholdingthebaby?’ this #IMHAW2025 👉bit.ly/43ys30y

It's #InfantMentalHealthAwareness week, and #InfantMentalHealth is at the heart of our SPIRE project 💕. Supporting conversations around parent-infant relationships is crucial to support #IMH in the #First1000Days. Watch this space for more information about SPIRE coming soon! #IMHAW2025

Today is the start of #InfantMentalHealthAwarenessWeek 💜 An important week to us at Home-Start that aims to raise awareness of infant mental health and the importance of early intervention support.  #IMHAW2025 #MentalHealthMatters #InfantMentalHealth

New parents are at high risk for loneliness. 💔 @ruthndwrites.bsky.social has led researchers, practitioners and people with lived experience to write a consensus statement exploring what we know about loneliness, and directions for research, policy and practice: bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjo...

'This workshop was bright and beautiful’: experiences of coproducing images to improve accessibility. Led by public contributors Shakirat Kekere-Ekun, Joanne Lloyd, Clara Martins de Barros, Eleanor Philpotts & Shaz Taylor, working with @katemorto.bsky.social journals.uclpress.co.uk/r4a/article/...

👋 Meet the team 👋 @kate-mooney.bsky.social is a Research Fellow in Epidemiology & Evaluations Methods, and is interested in research that aims to investigate & reduce inequalities in children's early years outcomes ⚖️. Read more about Kate's research here: www.york.ac.uk/healthscienc...

Ever wondered how well we measure early childhood development in schools? 🤔 Our new study assesses a routinely recorded measure of a child's development used in schools, the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)... (1/5)

What are the benefits of nature-based interventions in the early years? What are the future directions for research and practice? This amazing graphic summarises the reflections of 30 academics and practitioners who met at our conference! We will be sharing a blog soon, but enjoy this for now!

Looking forward to contributing to the conversation tomorrow, on human-nonhuman relations and links to wellbeing. Please join us if you're free and in York

The earliest years of a child’s life lay the groundwork for everything that follows. We believe in nurturing those foundations with love, care, and support, because when we invest in early childhood, we’re investing in a brighter future for all.

Also happy to do this with Masters (and PhDs) outside of the Psychology department @ybri-uoy.bsky.social @uoy-sociology.bsky.social @familywellbeinguoy.bsky.social @uoylangling.bsky.social @uoyenvironment.bsky.social @uoyeducation.bsky.social ⬇️

In the first 2 years of a baby’s life, loving and responsive relationships with parents/caregivers help babies feel safe & understood, giving them the best start in life. But, many parents/caregivers are not asked about their bond with their baby, meaning they may not get the support they need.

👋 Meet the team 👋 @kellyhollingsworth.bsky.social our Research Assistant is interested in mental health research that supports infants, children and young people in getting access to support they need. In our team, she supports on the evaluation of guidance to support parent-infant relationships.

An additional perspective on the Netflix drama 'Adolescence', from forensic psychologists, now added here: www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

👋 Meet the team 👋 @drsimimanni.bsky.social is a researcher interested in co-production and co-designed approaches to mental health research. In the Family Wellbeing Team, she is supporting the qualitative evaluation of prompts to explore the parent-infant relationship.

A reminder that applications are still open (until 30 May) for researchers and research supporting services to join the Celebrating Spaces exhibition and showcase on 3 July

Do you work with parents who have a new baby? Last year, the "Reflecting on parent-infant relationships: a practitioner's guide" was published to support professionals to start conversations about parent-infant relationships. We are interested to know what you think! Please complete our survey 👇

Let’s talk about maternal mental health! Around 1 in 4 women experience perinatal mental health problems. A range of mental health conditions can affect mothers during the perinatal period – anxiety and depression disorders being the most common #MMHAW25

Would you like to find out more about how a joint scheme between the NHS and social housing organisation supports tenants’ mental wellbeing needs? Our evaluation found that an innovative Mental Health Navigator scheme provides major benefits for tenants.

👋 Meet the team... 👋 @lois-armour.bsky.social is a Research Assistant currently evaluating projects on parent-infant wellbeing. Lois has an interest in addressing health inequalities and inclusiveness of marginalised groups within Patient and Public Involvement activities.

Fun day today with one of my favourite collaborators @zoedarwin.bsky.social filming a piece about our research evaluating BDCT’s Ready to Relate intervention @familywellbeinguoy.bsky.social #parentinfantrelationships #infantmentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #readytorelate

Join us for this year's York Festival of Ideas. 31 May to 13 June. #YorkIdeas

Early years interventions can support parents in the #First1000Days, but there are gaps in the research evidence... We're bridging this gap using #quasi-experimental methods and #qualitative evaluations with several #earlyyears #interventions designed to support parent and child wellbeing 👩‍👧...

Many parents think they aren't doing enough with their children, but there are so many little things they are already doing everyday - without even realising - which builds love, trust, connection & confidence. Let's celebrate and shout about the great job that parents are doing! ❤️ #parenting

From cutting-edge research to real-world impact — the BAPM Annual Conference 2025 is where the future of perinatal care takes shape. Join is at this year's event! 📅 8–9 September 2025 📍 Cardiff & Online 🔗 www.bapm.org/events/bapm-...

How can nature make a difference for families with young children? We're working with parents/caregivers, Phoenix Wellbeing & Hull Museums to understand how nature-based groups like Tree Babies & Tots boost family wellbeing and parent-child connections. Exciting findings coming soon!

👋 Meet the team... 👋 @katemorto.bsky.social is a researcher & health psychologist in Family Wellbeing. Kate works closely with parents and caregivers to co-design research projects. Currently evaluating support for parent-infant relationships, and reviewing perinatal nature-based interventions.

**New Policy Brief: @arc-yharc.bsky.social researchers at the University of York support practitioners in Hull to disseminate a new initiative to improve access to care for families with young children. Read more: arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/nihr-arc-yor...

Our Family Wellbeing team work with a fantastic group of parents and caregivers in Hull & East Riding to discuss new research ideas and make projects inclusive and meaningful. Watch 👇 @katemorto.bsky.social and group co-chair Katy Baynes talking about the group and what we’ve achieved so far!

Want to learn more? 🎟️ Join our lunchtime webinar on 24 April to hear from those who delivered the programme – from Nesta analysts and designers to early years leaders and practitioners in local authorities. Register to attend: bit.ly/41j24ZN

Are you interested in #parent-infant #bonding and #relationships? 💕 We co-produced the 11 item Me and My Baby (MaMB) #measurement tool for both research & universal health settings, to help identify parents in need of additional support. 👇 Download the MaMB tool and manual for free below 👇

Are you interested in #parent-infant #bonding and #relationships? 💕 We co-produced the 11 item Me and My Baby (MaMB) #measurement tool for both research & universal health settings, to help identify parents in need of additional support. 👇 Download the MaMB tool and manual for free below 👇

📢 Mental health problems can cast a long shadow over a child's life. But this isn’t inevitable. We’re calling on the Government to act now to prevent the next generation of young people being held back by mental health difficulties: tinyurl.com/4dxsn69k #InvestInChildhood

👋 Meet the team... 👋 Our team is led by @sarah-blower.bsky.social. Sarah specialises in the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of children and their families, and works collaboratively with charities, local authorities and other organisations.

This #MothersDay, we're thinking of the mums: 💜 who are struggling with their #MaternalMentalHealth 💜 who survived 💜 who didn't 💜 hiding how they feel 💜 supporting other mothers through difficult times. You are not alone. For information and support options, visit maternalmentalhealthalliance.org.

Join our event to talk about how nature-based interventions can support families with young children! This event is for parents/caregivers, researchers and practitioners to come together and share ideas. Register at the link below 👇 Tues 13 May in Sheffield.

We’ve joined Bluesky! We’re excited to start sharing our research about #earlyyears #interventions and #measures to reduce inequalities in the health, development, and wellbeing of babies, children, and young people, and their #families. Find out more here: www.york.ac.uk/healthscienc...