World Association for Infant Mental Health - WAIMH

26/09/2025

President Astrid Berg shares a reflection on the global challenges facing infants and families, asking: “Are we, as a species, losing our human capacity for caring about the other?” She writes that the only answer we may have, is that we must do what we are doing with even more energy and commitment. We must continue to care for all infants and their families – they, more than any other group, bear the consequences of war, aid withdrawal, and food insecurity. WAIMH has joined calls from UNICEF, WHO, and ICRC for immediate aid access and an end to civilian suffering. The upcoming Congress in Toronto, themed "Harmony in Diversity: Nurturing the Youngest Minds around the World", will be a warm and welcoming occasion and provide us with the opportunity to make connections and support one another.

Dear WAIMH Colleagues I am writing this in difficult times. Who would have thought that when we started the “Infants in Crises” Working Group in 2024, just after the start of the war in Ukraine, we were at the beginning of global events not imaginable before. It seems that humanity has taken a f...

24/09/2025

It was lovely meeting colleagues from across the Nordic countries at the Nordic Marcé conference in Turku, Finland over the past couple of days. Hoping to see you at next year — the call for papers is open!

23/09/2025

Dr. Kaija Puura is Executive Director of the WAIMH World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), where she has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission to connect research, clinical practice, and policy across borders. As Professor of Child Psychiatry at Tampere University and Chief Physician at Tampere University Hospital in Finland, she brings together decades of experience in both clinical leadership and academic research, ensuring that the voices and needs of infants, young children and families remain central to every conversation.

Kaija’s work has consistently bridged local practice and global collaboration. From pioneering research and publications to leadership roles in international associations and advisory committees, she has helped shaped the dialogue on infant and early mental health at every level. Her vision has strengthened WAIMH’s role as a convener of ideas, people, and practices that inspire change worldwide.

As host of this year’s conference, Kaija brings this breadth of experience and perspective, ensuring that the program reflects both the depth of our field and the collaborative spirit that drives it forward.

The call for abstracts is now open. We invite you to share your insights, research, and innovations, and to take part in shaping the dialogue that will continue to define and advance the field of infant and early mental health 💡.

Submit your abstract today: https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP

19/09/2025

Newly published Perspectives in Infant Mental Health Special Issue: Decolonizing Infant Mental Health Research, Practice, and Intervention

While the colonizing practices of the West have changed significantly over the past few decades, the long-term consequences of such practices continue to be felt by the people living within colonized communities. This special issue of focuses on some of the innovative work that is currently being undertaken to ‘revitalize’ concepts and practice, through the recentering of ways of working that are important to colonized and Indigenous communities.

We thank each author for their interesting and thoughtful contributions. As always, we invite comments in response to what is published in WAIMH .

While the colonising practices of the West have changed significantly over the past few decades, the long-term consequences of such practices continue to be felt by the people living within colonised communities. For example, the evidence shows that Aboriginal children are still much more (ten times...

16/09/2025

Dr. Catherine Chamberlain, Associate Professor and NHMRC Career Development Fellow, is a descendant of the Trawlwoolway People of Tasmania and an internationally recognized leader in Indigenous health. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare—spanning service management, policy, evidence-based practice, and research—she has dedicated her career to improving health equity for Indigenous families.

Her postdoctoral program develops strengths-based, family-focused strategies in pregnancy, birth, and early childhood, combining qualitative and epidemiological research with knowledge translation to bridge evidence and practice.

We are honoured to welcome Dr. Chamberlain as a keynote speaker at WAIMH 2026👏.

The Call for Abstracts is open. Join the global dialogue by sharing your research, practice, and insights on nurturing the youngest minds of the world. Learn more here: https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP

12/09/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Ann M. Stacks, PhD as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood! Dr. Stacks is the Director of the Infant Mental Health Program at Wayne State University’s Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute. She brings an exciting vision for the that will build on Dr. Holly Brophy-Herb’s work as the previous Editor-in-Chief, to foster diverse perspectives while maintaining a strong foundation of scientific rigor and a deep commitment to those who care for infants and families. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Holly for her years of dedicated leadership and warmly welcome Ann!

The World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH), and the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health wish to offer our sincere thanks to Dr. Holly Brophy-Herb for her years of service as the Editor-in-Chief of the Infant Me...

11/09/2025

Reflections from the Past: WAIMH 16th World Congress in Rome, Italy.

As we look ahead to WAIMH 2026 in Toronto, this quote continues to inspire our commitment to global collaboration and nurturing the youngest minds from the very beginning. Our goal is to create that same environment of connection and innovation, bringing together voices from across the globe to reimagine what’s possible for the youngest minds of the world.

We invite you to share your research, practice, and ideas, and add to the dialogue that defines our field. Submit your abstract today 🔗 : https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP

09/09/2025

Dr. Holly E. Brophy-Herb, Professor of Child Development at Michigan State University, is a developmental scientist and endorsed Infant Mental Health Mentor whose work examines how infants and toddlers come to understand emotions within parent–child and educator–child relationships.

Her research and partnerships across the U.S. and internationally have advanced knowledge of caregiver well-being, reflective capacity, and relationship-based practice. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Infant Mental Health Journal, helping shape the field’s scholarship worldwide.

As part of the WAIMH 2026 Program Committee, Holly E. Brophy-Herb brings her deep expertise to shaping a congress that will spark meaningful dialogue on the emotional lives of infants, toddlers, and the adults who care for them.

The Call for Abstracts is open — add your voice to the program she and her colleagues are shaping by submitting your work today. Learn more here: https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP

05/09/2025

Remember to nominate your colleagues for the Awards!

WAIMH offers five awards to recognize individuals from around the world who have made significant contributions to the community throughout their careers. We invite nominations from the fields of health, mental health, early care and education, early intervention, hospitals, colleges and universities, legislatures, and more. Deadline for submitting the nomination materials: December 31, 2025. Awardees will be honored at the Toronto World Congress in October 2026.

WAIMH offers five important awards to recognize individuals from around the world who have made significant contributions to the infant mental health community throughout their careers. Interdisciplinary by design, WAIMH now invites nominations from professionals in the fields of health, mental heal...

29/08/2025

The WAIMH Infants in Crises page, is intended to be a support resource for any professional who is in a position to lend their minds to infants, young children, and their families in humanitarian crises. It also complements the work of the WAIMH Global Crises Working Group. The group includes members who are able and willing to be contacted to provide a listening, reflective, and emotionally supportive space.

Visit the WAIMH Infants in Crises page for more information: https://waimh.org/page/infants_in_crises

28/08/2025

WAIMH 2024 World Congress: Tampere, Finland — what a remarkable global moment that reminded us how powerful it is when the infant and early mental health community across the world comes together to share knowledge, spark innovation, and strengthen our shared vision.

The conversations and connections from Tampere continue to inspire what lies ahead for WAIMH 2026 in Toronto. As we look forward, we invite you to help shape a congress that will spark valuable dialogue and fresh perspectives.

The Call for Papers is open. Share your work and be part of the conversation on nurturing the youngest minds of the world from the very beginning. Learn more here: https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP

26/08/2025

Meet the Host: Dr. Chaya Kulkarni

As Director of Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP) at The Hospital for Sick Children, Dr. Chaya Kulkarni has dedicated her career to improving outcomes across the lifespan by translating the science of infant and early mental health into practice with families during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood.

With more than 25 years of experience in leading frontline service delivery, policy, research, and curriculum development, she has been a driving force in placing Canada at the centre of the global conversation on nurturing the youngest minds of the world.

We are honoured to spotlight Dr. Chaya Kulkarni, host and chair of the Local Organizing Committee for WAIMH 2026. Join her and the international infant and early mental health community in shaping a congress that advances knowledge and inspires action worldwide.

The Call for Papers is now open. Learn more here: https://web.cvent.com/event/a3c53b35-3d90-41f2-ab6b-a7bbcb3c13c7/summary?RefId=linkedin_CFP