Carmine Pariante receives 2017 Infant Mental Health Award

Professor Carmine Pariante from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) has been awarded the Andrea Leadsom Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Infant Mental Health.

This award recognises an exceptional and inspirational individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of infant mental health nationally.

The Parent Infant Partnership (PIP) were seeking nominations for individuals, projects and organisations who are focused on pregnancy as a window of change for life opportunities, in honour of the 2nd National Infant Mental Health Week (12-16 June 2017), 'Begin Before Birth'. The theme aims to highlight the importance of giving every baby the best possible start in life beginning in pregnancy.

“Potential of a child begins in pregnancy, and this is a period of incredible priority in our family and community life”, says Clair Rees, Executive Director of the Parent Infant Partnership UK. “Work such as that of Professor Carmine Pariante and his team is essential to helping us to shape local and national services, in order to give every baby the best possible start in life."

Professor Pariante’s work over the years has described the long-term consequences of maternal mental health problems in pregnancy on the physical and mental health of the offspring, demonstrating effects as late as in adulthood and into the next generation. Professor Pariante also directly contributes to improving the care of women with mental health problems in the perinatal period as a Consultant in the Perinatal Service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Finally, he works with artists and journalists to increase public awareness of perinatal mental health problems, as described in his Huffington Post blog.

Tim Loughton MP, co-chair of the children’s manifesto, presented the awards at the Infant Mental Health Week Ceremony on Wednesday 14 June.