PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health

20/04/2025

We urge the Administration to reverse course and for Congress to reject any budget that harms America’s babies and families. The impacts of this proposed budget would be felt for generations, with significant ramifications on our economy and our children’s futures.

Reducing funding for programs that support healthy development and interventions for medical or developmental challenges will result in families delaying or not accessing needed care. And cuts to funding that support the nation’s child care and early education system will lead to higher costs, longer waitlists, and even more barriers to employment.

Tell your Members of Congress to protect funding for essential programs that babies need to thrive: https://bit.ly/4lBxOBq

20/04/2025

Join the PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (SIGPIMH) for Grand Rounds, featuring research presentations on matrescence and intrusive thoughts in early motherhood, from the winners of the SIGPIMH Early Career Awards—Clinical Psychologists Dr Amy Corbett and Dr Katy Carey.

Register now: bit.ly/3bLl

03/12/2024

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/irish-journal-of-psychological-medicine/article/perinatal-stress-and-anxiety-in-ireland-experiences-and-support-needs/F63A0CD1FFAE1680BF1DFE7FE43D81E4

Perinatal stress and anxiety in Ireland: experiences and support needs

03/12/2024

New mothers urgently need more mental health supports

A new study has found that new mothers are in urgent need of more mental health supports ….check out this great research led by Dr Karen Matvienko Sikar, research officer PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health The Psychological Society of Ireland

https://www.newstalk.com/news/young-mothers-urgently-need-more-mental-health-supports-1789054?fbclid=PAY2xjawG7_ctleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABprzwye3wpz3ICkmAk_MV63vkMDVxoelX_cfjr45_IfPZG39FYriPjZq-qg_aem_2GQHyDfA-hKiZUU04DCmFw

A new study has found that new mothers are in urgent new of more mental health supports in the fi...

25/11/2024

The INMO PHN Section annual webinar is taking place November 30th. We look forward to a presentation by Dr Claire Crowe and Dr Anne-Marie Casey focusing on the impact of phone usage with several other informative topics on sleep behaviour, the diabetic foot, safe staffing and an update on the expert review group.

Booking is essential 👉 email education@inmo.ie or phone 01 6640618.

25/11/2024

We are delighted PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health The Psychological Society of Ireland to collaborate with the Neurodiversity Special Interest Group at PSI on the Top Tips for healthcare practitioners to support Neurodivergent parents which will be available following this webinar on the PSI website.

17/11/2024

“Holding her was amazing,” she says. “I read to her. I went in early every morning, sat with her before the doctors came on their rounds. Every day, I’d ask what’s the plan for today, are you changing her meds or feeds. It gave me some level of control.”

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-41514761.html

Dr Anne-Marie Casey, Senior Clinical Psychologist with and PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health at The Psychological Society of Ireland spoke to Helen O’Callaghan with the Irish Examiner on a few weeks. Helen interviewed two parents about their experiences of when a baby is born early. When a baby is born early, a parent is also born early.

integratedcare

A premature birth can deeply impact parents, but staying closely involved in their child’s hospital care can make a significant difference

15/11/2024

A wonderful story from Dr Ciara McCarthy presenting at the Symposium in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health. It is worth sharing!

*Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

PSI Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Special Interest Group (SIGPIMH)
The Psychological Society of Ireland


thanks Jadra for sharing.

15/11/2024

Congratulations to Dr Katy Carey for winning a Highly Commended prize for her research in

• Title
“A Wary Mind and a Wary Eye”: A Psychoanalytically Informed Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Experiences of Intrusive Harm Thoughts Towards Their Babies.

• Project/Research
This study aimed to explore mothers’ experience of intrusive thoughts in a primary care setting. It utilised a psychoanalytically informed qualitative approach. Six mothers with a lived experience of intrusive thoughts and mild to moderate postnatal distress took part in this study. Each participant attended three interviews. Following analysis, four main themes emerged including: 1. “My body was under too much stress”, 2. “A survivor instinct”, 3. “I’d keep a wary mind and a wary eye”, and 4. “Life is finite.”

We are delighted that Katy will present her research at an online grand rounds with us in 2025. More details to follow in the New year website, on these socials and by email to members. Our grand rounds series are open to all interested in perinatal and infant mental health.

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15/11/2024

Congratulations to Dr Amy Corbett on winning the PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Early Career Award 2024 The Psychological Society of Ireland

Title
“Am I enough?” Exploring first time mothers’ experience of matrescence: The impact of the idealised transition on psychological distress and maternal self-esteem.

Research
This study aims to explore how the disparity between idealised and actual experiences of motherhood impacts psychological distress during matrescence. It also seeks to understand the role of self-esteem in shaping maternal mental health. Eight first-time mothers participated in the study completing semi-structured interviews both pre and postnatally. Longitudinal Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (LIPA) was used to analyse the results. The findings emphasise the significant impact unmet expectations can have on self-esteem and psychological distress in first-time mothers. Understanding this experience is crucial for developing effective interventions to support mothers following the experience of disparity between idealised motherhood and the reality of matrescence.

Amy will present her research at a grand rounds with us in 2025. Details will be here and on website in due course.

15/11/2024

Thanks to all for coming to our symposium on Infant Mental Health at the PSI annual conference 2024.

Huge thanks to Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for children chairing the symposium and his wise and encouraging words for families and staff in and settings.

Thanks also to the fabulous line up of speakers today PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health symposium:
Dr Ciara McCarthy / Holding the baby, relationship and messy kitchen sink in mind: An exploration to explore the simplicity and complexity of an IMH framework with vulnerable Infants, Carers, Families and Communities.

Dr Eithne No Longphuirt on behalf of Dr Anne-Marie Casey, Dr Philip Coey, Dr Aoife Twohig, Ciara McKay, Jenny Dunne and Ciara MacMahon, Joanna McHughPower / Every baby Matters: Staff and Parents perspectives on the relationship support of infants and families in a Paediatric Setting

Dr Padraig Collins / Swift Access to Psychological Therapy for Parents of Infant: A Primary Care Model

Dr Claire Crowe and Dr Anne-Marie Casey / Empowering New beginnings: Establishing Neonatal Psychology Services in Paediatric hospitals Psychological Society of IrelandThe Ombudsman for Children's Officed 🙏 Ombudsman for Children's Office

15/11/2024

Huge thanks to Dr Eithne NiLongphuirt for stepping in and presenting on behalf of Dr Anne-Marie Casey, Dr Philip Coey, Dr Aoife Twohig, Ciara McKay, Jenny Dunne from Children’s Health Ireland and Ciara MacMahon, Joanna McHughPower Maynooth University Psychology / Every baby Matters: Staff and Parents perspectives on early relationship support for infants and families

The importance of empowering the relationship between parent/caregiver and infant while also being aware of our relationships with families as staff, and our relationship and connection with our own stories and compassionate motivation for these jobs is all important.