Most children under five do not receive the support needed to prevent lifelong mental health conditions, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 

In its report Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: the case for action, the Royal College of Psychiatrists calls for the government to prioritise the mental health of babies and young children. 

In England prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 100,000 (5.5%) of two to four-year-olds struggled with anxiety, behavioural disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders, according to the report. Risk factors which contribute to a child developing a mental health condition include smoking, alcohol or substance use during pregnancy, socioeconomic deprivation and adverse childhood experiences like domestic violence or physical and emotional neglect and abuse. 

The College is calling on the government to introduce new specialist services, prioritise the development of a cross-government early childhood strategy, workforce and training plan, and improve data collection on early childhood outcomes to better understand and support young children. 

The report warns a failure to effectively tackle this issue could breach statutory legislation and the under 5s right to mental health under Article 24 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Joanna Moody, senior policy advisor for child mental health and wellbeing at UNICEF UK, said:  “Many services play a vital role in supporting babies’ and young children’s mental health, and that of their parents and caregivers, including early childhood education, social services, maternity, health visiting, primary care, mental health and the voluntary sector.”

Consultant perinatal psychiatrist and registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Dr Trudi Seneviratne said:  “The period from conception to five is essential in securing the healthy development of children into adulthood. Unfortunately, these years are often not given the importance they should be, and many people are unaware of what signs they should be looking out for.”