The European Early Promotion Project: A new primary health care service to promote children's mental health

✍ Scribed by Kaija Puura; Hilton Davis; Kalliroi Papadopoulou; John Tsiantis; Veronika Ispanovic-Radojkovic; Nenad Rudic; Tuula Tamminen; Merja-Maaria Turunen; Thalia Dragonas; Anna Paradisiotou; Semeli Vizakou; Rosemarie Roberts; Antony Cox; Crispin Day

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 245 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0163-9641
• DOI: 10.1002/imhj.10039

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The number of children in Europe with significant psychologic and social problems is large and increasing. This article describes an innovative crosscultural method of working with families to promote the psychosocial well being of children and prevent the development of psychologic and social problems. A study designed to evaluate the effects of the service is also presented. Primary health care workers in five European countries have been trained to conduct promotional interviews with all prospective mothers in their area one month before and one month after birth. They have also been taught to work with mothers identified as in need of support as a parent by using a specific counselling model to try to prevent the onset of child mental health difficulties. Effects of the intervention on children's psychologic development and family adaptation are being evaluated at two years in comparison with matched groups not receiving the intervention. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.