Laying the foundations of mental health

The Mental Health Foundation notes one in ten children rising to one in four adults will experience mental health issues in any given year (MHF 2015).

Around 50 per cent of women with perinatal mental health problems are not identified or treated, the consequences of which costs the UK economy over £8 billion a year.

Balbernie and Barrows draw attention to research which shows how active, satisfying and responsive relationships in the early years are a buffer against mental disorders throughout life (YM 2004).

At Norland College, our students are learning about the neurophysiological foundations for future mental health and well-being as part of their degree in early development and learning. The significance of early relationships in laying the foundation for mental health is well known, but research is opening up new understanding about how appropriate caregiving experiences are enshrined not just in our brains but in our bodies, producing ‘biological’ memories that lead to lifelong physical and mental health (NSCDC 2012). One theory that illustrates how secure attachment affects our biological functioning is the work of Porges.