Early Life and Infant Mental Health Research Group
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-Language Therapist and Audiologist
Chair of the Department 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]
Education programmes
- MPhil IMH degree: applications closed for 2025.
- IMH online short course: enquire about future offerings.
Research
| Previous research | Current research | Available research | Transdisciplinary research |
| Shared Pleasure Paradigm in maternal-infant interactions PI: Dr A Lachman | The First 1000 days in South Africa in various contexts (implementation, nutrition, etc.) (MPhil IMH dissertations) PI: Dr A Lachman and Prof A Berg | Secure base provision, infant regulation and attachment in South Africa PI: Dr N Dawson | Public Square in Early Intervention and Child Mental Health - for additional information contact Dr A Lachman and Dr B Gerber |
| Mother-child interactions in women with peri- and postpartum psychosis PI: Dr J Voges | Clinical audit of the Tygerberg Infant Mental Health Clinic (MMed Psychiatry dissertation: Dr S Jassat) PI: Dr A Lachman and Ms S Maharaj | Testing attachment models in South Africa: Best predictors of attachment security PI: Dr N Dawson | Development of an intervention to support, educate, and counsel mothers of preterm infants during the infant's hospitalisation phase Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr C Wepener |
| Sensitive responsiveness - contextual and cultural applicability in Africa PI: Dr N Dawson | Assessment of Ububele health care programmes - NBO and the Baby Mat Project (MPhil IMH dissertations) PI: Dr N Dawson | Efficacy of task-shifting for IMH intervention role out PI: Dr N Dawson | Exploring the relationship between infant mental health and speech-language therapy: A scoping review M in Speech-Language Therapy: Ms C Rudolph |
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:
| Anusha Lachman | Astrid Berg | Juané Voges | Salisha Maharaj | Nicola Dawson | Berna Gerber |
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
Societies
- World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIM)
- The International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health
- South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP)
- South African Association for Infant Mental Health (ZA-AIMH)
- South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN)
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