Her eyes are closed, her body still, leaning against his thick bodyguard torso.
A fleeting touch, warmth, and security are the moments that bond relationships and can change the trajectory of a life. They also represent infant mental health, an overlooked but important specialty as Michigan and the nation grapple with a growing mental health crisis.
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“There's a widespread belief that infants don't and won't remember their traumas and challenges, and that infants are still resilient,” social worker Rebecca Wheeler said.
That's different, she said.
“The reality is that young children… remember, but their memories are more body-centered and more sensory,” she said.
Ms. Wheeler is part of the new Social Work Early Childhood Support Clinic. The clinic is the first program in Detroit to recognize that a child's ability to form relationships and ultimately regulate stress begins in the first few days of life.
More specifically, safe moments and the ability to form relationships help babies feel safe, understand the world around them, and build resilience for lifelong health. These help build lifelong cognitive, emotional, and social skills.
The clinic is a partnership between Wayne State University's School of Social Work, which provides specialized training in infant and young child mental health, and Wayne State Pediatrics, a health center staffed by medical school clinicians near the university.
Michigan's behavioral health system has been overwhelmed and understaffed for years, so early intervention now could be the key to curbing at least some mental health crises in the coming years. be.
“Early intervention basically gives you the most power to influence a child's life,” said Wheeler, a social worker in Detroit.
“If we can make even small changes toward positive, resilient, and safe parent-child relationships, that attachment relationship can become the greatest protective factor for people facing all kinds of challenges later in life. ” she said. “It's like any other investment strategy: the earlier you start, the more interest you'll earn.”
There is research to back up her claims.
Economist James Heckman's research focuses on comparing the long-term benefits of investing in early intervention in children's development. He created the Heckman curve. His research shows that for every $1 spent on early childhood development, society saves more than $7 in the long run.
It is based on, for example, better health and more earning power. Heckman's study is not without criticism, but other studies have found even higher returns on investment.
What is the conclusion?
“The earlier we support the healthy growth and development of children and their families, and especially children between the ages of 0 and 3, the more savings we will save in the future.” said Holly Brophy Herb, professor of child studies.Michigan State University Developer and Editor-in-Chief of the Peer-Reviewed Journal of Early Childhood Mental Health.
Real life vs TikTok
It was recently “Baby Day” at Wayne Pediatrics. This Wednesday was a day when the clinic's pediatricians focused on well-being visits for infants.
Social worker Beverly Wethington was sitting on her laptop in her office around the corner from the doctor's office, reviewing her to-do list for the day. The new partnership currently only has two social workers, so Wheeler and Wethington will now have to focus only on the small patients most at risk.
Medical staff may describe parents who are suffering from postpartum depression or anxiety.wethington and wheeler — Coordinator of this clinic — Also I worry about single parents and young mothers who are still struggling to graduate from high school.
“You're 17 years old and you're watching TikTok videos of gender reveal parties, baby showers, mother-child photo shoots,” Wethington told Bridge. “It's rare to see videos of mothers really struggling with sleep deprivation.”
