The next section explores the complementary benefits of healthy eating and being active for promoting mental health and wellbeing and building social connections.
Mental health benefits
- Adopting healthy behaviours early in life reduces the risk of overweight and obesity – being a healthy weight has a positive effect on mental health and supports children to thrive.1
- Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of parents can have a significant and lasting benefit to the mental health and wellbeing of their children.2
- Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruit, and low in non-core food and drinks is associated with better mental health among both children and adults.1
- Outdoor family time, such as pram walking and active play, creates opportunities for physical activity and offers additional mental health benefits through social and community connection.
- Healthy eating and being active (at least 60 minutes per week) can reduce the risk of depression among adults.3 This is important during the perinatal period, as one in five mothers and one in ten fathers in Australia may experience depression and anxiety.4
Building social connection
- INFANT helps to connect new parents, providing social and community connection – the group-based format of INFANT is a “relaxed, friendly environment that encourage(s) peer discussion, social connections and trust.”5
“I find if parents are able to share their ideas and what has worked for them, they are often more likely to believe and take on ideas from their peers than an “expert” so encouraging this sort of discussion is a really important part of programs.” – INFANT training participant.
- Engaging new parents in early parenting programs connects families with local health services and can help them to access other services at the right time.
“There are so many isolated young mums out there. So I really try and hone in on the playgroup aspect and all the different services… like there’s been one lady, she sort of needed a little bit of extra support, and I sort of said to her that I thought it would be really good if she was to speak to her maternal health nurse and see if she could get some extra support.” – INFANT Program facilitator.
References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2020). Australia’s children. Cat. no. CWS 69. Canberra: AIHW. aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children
2. Rioseco, P., Warren, D. & Daraganova, G. (2020). Children’s social-emotional wellbeing: the role of parenting, parents’ mental health and health behaviours. Australian Institute of Family Studies: Canberra. aifs.gov.au/publications/childrens-social-emotional-wellbeing
3. Department of Health (2020). Co-benefits of a healthy lifestyle for mental wellbeing. Victorian Government: Melbourne. health.vic.gov.au/population-health-systems/co-benefits-of-a-healthy-lifestyle-for-mental-wellbeing
4. PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Australia (PwC Australia) (2019). The cost of perinatal depression and anxiety in Australia. perinatalwellbeingcentre.org.au/cost-of-perinatal-depression-and-anxiety-in-australia
5. Love, P., Laws, R., Litterbach, E., & Campbell, K. (2018). Factors Influencing Parental Engagement in an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Program Implemented at Scale: The Infant Program. Nutrients, 10(4), 509. MDPI AG. dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10040509
Your task
Submit a comment to share your experiences of how parenting groups such as INFANT can help to improve mental health and wellbeing and build social connection among parents. Have there been any comments from parents about benefits to their mental wellbeing or social networks as a result of attending an INFANT group program?
Read the comments from others and replies from the INFANT team. Click the ‘mark complete’ button when you’re ready, then select ‘next lesson’ for the next step.
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Agree with all of the comments about the connections made and maintained through attendance at New Parent’s Group and INFANT program. But this section has also made me reflect that I should highlight this as an important time for examining family eating habits from the point of view of potentially enhancing mental health (especially at this time when the cost of fresh produce is under the microscope in the media).
Families are very happy to be engaging again and connecting in NPG, many have found it isolating over the past couple of years particularly.
We are continuing to see the impact that social isolation and the inability to have face to face group sessions during COVID lockdowns. The return of face to face groups including first time parent group, 2plus parent group, INFANT sessions, gives families the ability to form valuable connecitons with other families and this has been verbalised by parents and demonstrated by the long lasting friendships they form.
I have been facilitating some 2nd time parent groups. Families during COVID have become socially isolated from family and many have few friends with young children. Groups have introduced a group of families that have now built social connections. First week anxious parents by the end of the second week I know I have done my job when they are organizing catch ups with their older children at the local park.
Love the idea of second time parent group.
Reconnecting after isolation is important for some families and also for families who move to an area after having their first child often miss out on connecting with other families of young children, particulalry if they do not engage with playgroups etc.
I have not had the opportunity to run an INFANT program but when speaking to a colleague who has, she found families start to connect and support each other well over the four sessions. Some families forming friendships and meeting on a weekly basis. So important when many are dealing with mental Heath issues and isolation
I have been noticing that clusters of Mum’s from their New Parents Group sign up and come to the later Infant sessions. Therefore the older age group sessions are providing another reason for the first time parent group to reconnect.
We know that the main goal of First Time Parent Groups is to create a connected and supportive community for new parents. However parents who are having baby 2,3 etc may never have had that opportunity so we are going to be offering INFANT to all parents and this will be a chance to share information and create connection
Many first time parents talk about their first time parent groups being beneficial to their wellbeing. It is all about connection and if they feel a sense of belonging it works out well for them. Other people get a sense of love and belonging in more intimate settings and this format is not for them; but as long as they have meaningful connection somewhere their mood is generally ok. Group work is a great way to normalise experiences for people though and helps build the village of support we all need in a vulnerable time of life.
New Parent Groups have always offered that connection to parents. The INFANT program which has the ability to be rolled out to second time parents etc. offers them that connection that they may be missing
Parents groups can be very beneficial for those who are interested in meeting other parents with children the same age, and allows them connections and support knowing they are not navigating the challenges of parenting alone. It is also noticeable that those not keen on participating in groups often experience greater isolation. The last 2 years has highlighted this significantly, whilst mums were still connected in an online forum in our council area, there was a lot of feedback that the social connection was missing and many were sad that they missed the opportunity for this. Infant allows us to build on those connections formed in those groups and facilitate another meeting and maybe re-establish those connections if they have deteriorated since the NPG ran.
For those parents happy to be part of group activities the connection with others assist the mental health and build the natural networks. Those not keen on groups participation often experience greater isolation particularly if first time parents.
We incorporate the INFANT program in our first time parent group and it is always one that has many questions and generates a lot of questions and discussion amongst the group. I think discussing starting solids in this forum can also reduce the anxiety around beginning solids that some parents have.
Introducing solids is often something parents get anxious about when discussed in FTPG. TO have INFANT offered to focus on this in a socially connected group will alleviate some of this worry and assist with shared knowledge and experiences. Resulting in better mental and physical health outcomes for our families. I agree that parents gain so much more from information when it is shared form each others learnt experiences in a group setting.
We have all seen a huge jump in MH problems with our clients these last 2.5 years. Social connection improves MH and wellbeing. FTPG and INFANT is a fabulous opportunity to do just that.
It has been great to see parents connect over shared recipes and ideas. Agree that it helps having a group that is already socially connected.
We don’t have Infant up and running yet. But I have had involvement with the New Parent Group and various playgroups and can appreciate the benefits of social connectivity that come from this and the impact this has for mental health. Group interventions are very crucial interventions which can diffuse and normalise worries and anxiety.
I find that parent groups help to satisfy the need for social connection and help support new parents in this big learning curve. Seeing how others are parenting, that they also don’t have it all together really helps with mental health challenges as well. The last few years of the pandemic has really limited this for new parents and I feel so sorry for them, glad to back face to face even with the risks involved.
I have not run an INFANT group but find any type of group such as New parent groups and playgroups, etc can be very beneficial for parents and children’s mental health and social connection. As stated parents like to hear from other parents.
They can also join a social media group such as what’s app or Facebook messenger group to chat in between sessions to share their joys and struggles and to ask for tips and advice from each other which is very beneficial for their connection and mental health.
The evidence of long term benefits of healthy eating and exercise provide another tool to help encourage acceptance and compliance.
Parenting groups in general offer a network of peer support and social interaction that many mums find beneficial. The challenge is getting those mums who are more vulnerable but who potentially stand to gain the most benefit, to actually attend the groups and then ensure it is a positive and uplifting experience for them. Incorporating INFANT into the New Parent Group sessions has been a great way to get this information out and get people thinking. Many mums, over the years, have spoken about how much pleasure and friendship the group has given them.
The first time parent groups, with infant along side is helpful and in particular catching up again at the other 3 sessions. It creates a session to ask questions and to re connect with the group. The parents learn from each other and you can offer some ideas and resources. In particular if people are feeling isolated.
Any opportunity to bring parents together for health promotion information and activities enables connections between participants to develop and for experiences to be shared. For examples after new parent groups I often observed that families lingered after the end of the session to chat with each other, organise another catch up before their next session or just stayed to enjoy the connections they had made. It will be interesting to see if facilitators report they are observing this after their sessions.
Some groups definitely connect better than others. Having the option of INFANT sessions at later stages, allows others to join into already established New Parents Groups, for example, if the family is new to town and seeking social interactions. I have found that due to COVID lockdowns some group really have enjoyed the face to face interactions with others in the INFANT session. It has really helped bring some groups back together.
I have found this too Leanne, we have some groups with great connections, who come back to subsequent sessions together, however other groups that don’t connect as well tend to have lower return rates for subsequent sessions. Most groups are very welcoming of others joining the sessions down the track which is lovely to see.
Yes, absolutely agree Adelaide and Leanne! I find this really interesting, and wonder what it is that makes some groups really gel and others just don’t, and yes the groups that don’t gel are definitely ones for which attendance at INFANT is poorer. And of course, even harder for groups to connect when haven’t been able to meet face-to-face over the past couple of years.
I have not yet faciliated an INFANT session as yet. However certainly the messaging in INFANT re benefits of physical activity and mental health can be discussed in First Time Parent Groups where parents get to know each other over a series of sessions. Parents will often meet in park and go for walks together once connections are made.
Our Council isn’t currently facilitating the infant sessions. The benefits however would be the same as the new mothers groups and the multi group where important social connections, sharing of ideas, debriefing and mums are getting the all important peer support.
Groups such as INFANT and FTPG ‘s provide an ideal way for new parents to connect and share ideas – Connections via social media are ok but they will never replace the value of face to face contact with people from the same neighborhood and hearing evidence based information .
Well said Val. The FTPG works really well for this type of networking, the INFANT session still provides a great opportunity to share experiences and form connections especially if they haven’t connected with a prior FTPG.
I find the groups that work the best are those that form a connection or bond over the course of the New Parent’s Group. If the connection is good, there is good attendance at INFANT sessions with good conversation, encouragement and trouble shooting in the sessions. Building social connections can be really difficult for some people but connecting through shared parenting experiences can be helpful.
We haven’t ran the program yet but in other similar parenting sessions I have found that when parents hear from others with similar issues they feel less anxious and less likely to feel its their fault. With our sessions its likely to be outside of their usual mums group so this will give participants another avenue of parents to connect with.
Yes, it’s challenging running a group that doesn’t connect well. As previously said, INFANT has provided the opportunity for parents to reconnect or join the group down the track. It’s more relaxed and I have noticed that parents just seem that bit more confident to connect and share. As we don’t have a young parents group, I’m hoping that some of the young Mums will take up the INFANT program more readily. Since COVID, there has been movement of families from the city to regional areas. I like the fact that we have an opportunity with INFANT to include parents who are new to our area but not necessarily first time parents.
often the parent is the first in. their normal social group so through programs such as INFANT they meet other parents, expand their social connection and have the common theme of a child of a similar age to watch and compare and ask those silly but often more important questions that they may not ask a professional in a one-to-one visit.
We have found in the INFANT sessions there is lots of questions and discussion time that parents engage in
Attending groups helps reduce social isolation and allows people to connect with others locally. It allows families to share success and failures and offer advice and guidance to each other. I find that groups who are talkative and willing to share a great support for each other and they share resources and a range of ideas, my concerns is with some of the starting solids apps/Instagram pages that people follow, many for food and sleep. Not all the best info.
Parents who are quieter and not likely to ask questions benefit from the group discussions where questions that they have in their heads are being asked. It gives a sense that its not just me that is not sure, these issues are faced by many new parents. I am doing an OK job of this ” parenting gig. “
I find that running INFANT alongside the new parent group helps families build social connections in their local communities. Bringing them back for another 3 sessions, once the parent group has finished, also helps to keep them connected them down the track.
I have found that when running the INFANT sessions that the parents are usually quite happy to share their experiences thus far with solids and I believe this helps ease a lot of anxiety in the other parents as they realize they all have the same questions and concerns, and they are not alone on their parenting journey.
I agree. It great role modelling to hear what other babies the same age can do. The INFANT group and NPG are great for this to occur.
I think given how the last couple of years have gone with COVID it highlights the importance of new mums getting together for the social aspect, but also to share the troubles & day to day of mum life. INFANT gives another opportunity for this.
As a first time parent, none of my friends or social connections had children so I found the experience quite isolating after working full-time. Adult stimulation and conversation is vital for maintaining your mental health and wellbeing. Building social connections with other first-time parents eased my anxieties around parenting a new born.