IMHAW: The Solihull Approach

An article written by Kate, Health Visitor, ISPHN Service, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust for Infant Mental Health Awareness Week.

As part of my role as Health Visitor within the South Holderness ISPHN Service I utilise the Solihull Approach to promote infant mental health. This approach was developed to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and their families, it was developed by Dr Hazel Douglas MBE whilst working with a team of health visitors, child and adolescent mental health services and families, and has now been rolled out into other services including midwifery, family workers, foster carers, social workers, teachers and prison officers.

The Solihull Approach is set out into 3 sections which include Reciprocity which describes the interaction between a baby and an adult, Containment which is where a person can receive and understand emotional communication without being overwhelmed by it and Behaviour management which is part of the process of normal development where parents/carers can teach their child self-control, enabling them to participate in society.  This approach explores and educates the importance of Brain Development and Infant Mental Health, it helps us as practitioners to communicate this to parents and carers which can then in turn help to improve the outcomes of infants. We are aware through an abundance of research the link between an infant’s emotional wellbeing in the early years of life, and how this can significantly affect the physical and mental health outcomes in the later years.

Since becoming a Solihull Practitioner I have been able to use this approach within my daily practice when completing routine contacts with infants and their families. Looking at raising awareness around Infant Mental Health starting with parents at the antenatal contact exploring brain development in utero and educating expectant parents. Evidence shows that the development of the baby’s brain in utero can support the development of future positive relationships.

• By 22 weeks the baby is able to respond to sound, especially to the mother.
• The baby will within the womb develop a preference for the mother’s voice and native language.

• When the baby is born due to auditory pathways it can match Mother’s voice to her face.
• And the neural pathways laid down antenatally for smell enable the baby to identify smell of mother’s breast milk.

If expectant mothers are given this information along with information around the importance of providing adequate nutrition, rest, and acceptable levels of stress throughout pregnancy – the baby’s brain will continue to grow and develop, and at 40 weeks gestation be at an optimum state for continued growth. If babies in utero experience high levels of stress, are exposed to drugs/alcohol or domestic violence this can have an effect on parent/baby relationship and can be a barrier for good infant mental health.

This awareness and education are continued throughout all Health Visitor contacts looking at parent’s responsiveness, providing a nurturing environment and consistency.  Solihull educates the importance of response and communication with your baby, encouraging brain development this includes offering opportunities to Respond, Cuddle, Relax, Play and Talk which are the building blocks for good infant mental health from the Five to Thrive approach. The Solihull Approach links with lots of ongoing models and publications including the Five to Thrive and the 1001 Critical Days. The Solihull Approach builds our understanding as professionals and can offer specific parent groups which covers understanding you baby through the years and more.

Useful links

Solihull Approach | Parenting | Training for professionals (solihullapproachparenting.com)

Five to Thrive - An attachment-based approach to positive parenting

The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)