Early Life and Infant Mental Health Research Group
About us
Aim
To create a research hub for Early Life and Infant Mental Health at Stellenbosch University that focuses on culturally relevant and contextually sensitive research with infants and their caregivers, support and health care systems from pre-conception through the first 1000 days of life.
Mission
To create a space that will focus on early development and infant mental health (IMH), guided by the realities/needs of the Southern African context.
Our primary objectives are to encourage, facilitate, and disseminate local research that will contribute towards a more balanced global representation of evidence-based practice.
Faculty
Dr Anusha Lachman
Child Psychiatrist
IMH course coordinator and co-convenor of the MPhil IMH programme
WAIMH President's Executive at Large
Email: [email protected]
Emeritus Prof Astrid Berg
Child Psychiatrist
Co-convenor of the MPhil IMH programme
WAIMH President (2024-2028)
Email: [email protected]
Dr Berna Gerber
Speech-Languae Therapist and Audiologist
Chair of the Deaprtment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Postgraduate Committee
Email: [email protected]
Dr Juané Voges
Clinical Psychologist
ZA-AIMH Chair
WAIMH Affiliate Council Chair
Email: [email protected]
Ms Salisha Maharaj
Clinical Psychologist
ZA-AIMH board member
Assistant editor - Perspectives in Infant Mental Health
Email: [email protected]
Dr Nicola Dawson
Counselling Psychologist
Research Development and Training Lead at Ubebele
Research Portfolio Lead of SAPPIN
NBO Trainer at the Brazelton Institute
ZA-AIMH Secretary
Associate Editor - Perspectives
Email: [email protected]
Dr Noreth Muller-Kluits
Social Worker ans Disability Researcher
Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Early Intervention ans Child Mental Health Public Square
Email: [email protected]
Education programmes
MPhil Infant Mental Health
Applications are currently closed and will open again in 2026 for registration in 2027.
IMH Online Short Course
Send enquiries about future offerings to Anusha Lachman ([email protected])
Research
Previous research
- Shared Pleasure Paradigm in maternal-infant interactions (PI: Dr A Lachman)
- Mother-child interactions in women with peri- and postpartum psychosis (PI: Dr J Voges)
- Sensitive responsiveness - contextual and cultural applicability in Africa (PI: Dr N Dawson)
Current research
- The First 1000 days in South Africa in various contexts (implementation, nutrition, etc.) (MPhil IMH dissertations) (PI: Dr A Lachman and Prof A Berg)
- Clinical audit of the Tygerberg Infant Mental Health Clinic (MMed Psychiatry dissertation: Dr S Jassat) (PI: Dr A Lachman and Ms S Maharaj)
- Assessment of Ububele health care programmes - NBO and the Baby Mat Project (MPhil IMH dissertations) (PI: Dr N Dawson)
Transdisciplinary research
- Public Square in Early Intervention and Child Mental Health - for additional information, contact Dr A Lachman and Dr B Gerber
- Development of an intervention to support, educate, and counsel mothers of preterm infants during the infant's hospitalisation phase (Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr C Wepener)
- Exploring the relationship between infant mental health and speech-language therapy: A scoping review (M in Speech-Language Therapy: Ms C Rudolph)
Available research
- Secure base provision, infant regulation and attachment in South Africa (PI: Dr N Dawson)
- Testing attachment models in South Africa: Best predictors of attachment security (PI: Dr N Dawson)
- Efficacy of task-shifting for IMH intervention rollout (PI: Dr N Dawson)
- Infant Mental Health – A model for preventative care, and understanding caregiving in the context of children with chronic illnesses and disability (PI: Dr A Lachman, co-PI: Dr B Gerber, Dr M du Plessis (Investigator) - OPEN CALL TO INTERESTED STUDENTS
Collaborators
- Prof Michelle Pentecost, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London
- Prof Fiona Ross, Department of Social Anthropology & Gender Studies
- Dr Tracey Smythe, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University
Publications
For a full list of each faculty member's publications, you can access their respective SCOPUS profiles below:
Publication highlights:
- Lachman A, Gerber B, Bornman J, Smythe T. Opportunities to accelerate progress in infant mental health. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024;8(8):551-552. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00131-7
- Lachman A, Berg A, Ross F, Pentecost M. Infant mental health in southern Africa: Nurturing a field. Lancet. 2021;398(10303):835-836. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00998-3
- Lachman A, Gerber B, Burger M, et al. Prioritizing infant mental health: a research-driven pathway for action. Nat Med. 2025;31, 28–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03338-3
Societies and Resources
Resources
- The Handbook of DOHaD and Society - Past, Present, and Future Directions of Biosocial Collaboration
- WAIMH Handbook of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health - Cultural Context, Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment (Vol II)
Developing Culturally Sound Infant Mental Health Practice for the South African Context - Understanding the Uniqueness and Diversity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Infant Mental Health in Africa: Embracing Cultural Diversity