ATLANTA (WJBF) – As Mental Health Awareness Month continues in May, Georgia leaders and child development experts are emphasizing the importance of supporting children’s emotional wellness from the earliest stages of life.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is working with state agencies and community organizations to strengthen what officials call an “Early Childhood System of Care,” a coordinated effort aimed at supporting young children with social, emotional, and behavioral health needs across Georgia.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, often referred to as IECMH, focuses on a young child’s ability to experience and express emotions, form secure relationships, and explore and learn from the world around them.
According to DECAL, early relationships with parents, caregivers, teachers, and other trusted adults play a critical role in shaping a child’s long-term emotional and developmental health.
“Early childhood mental health is often overlooked,” said Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director with DECAL.
“We often see behavior challenges or emotional concerns in young children and push them aside,” Lucas said. “But those same children may later experience more severe issues, including aggressive behavior, depression, or self-harming behaviors.”
The effort is part of a broader statewide push following the creation of Georgia’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Task Force in 2021. The task force was established after recommendations from the Georgia House Study Committee on Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Health and focuses on policy, workforce development, prevention, and coordinated mental health services for children and families.
Organizations like ZERO TO THREE say a child’s mental health is deeply connected to the well-being of caregivers and the security of those relationships.
Experts warn that adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs, can significantly impact emotional development.
According to data from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, approximately 21% of Georgia infants and toddlers have experienced at least two ACEs, increasing the risk for early childhood mental health challenges.
State data also shows nearly one in four Georgia children between the ages of 3 and 17 have at least one emotional, behavioral, or developmental condition. Among diagnosed behavioral health conditions in Georgia children, ADHD accounts for 17 percent and anxiety disorders account for 15 percent.
Nationally, health experts estimate about one in six U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 8 have a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.
Research also shows children in low-income settings face even greater challenges. In some clinical settings, nearly 24 percent of 3 and 4-year-olds screened positive for social-emotional concerns.
Lucas says healthy communication and one-on-one interaction remain essential tools for parents and caregivers.
“You’ve got to connect with a child one-on-one, and you can’t do that through a screen,” Lucas said. “Talking about feelings, mental health, and how to cope with emotions needs to happen through direct conversations with children.”
State leaders say the goal is to encourage more adults to help create safe, stable, and supportive environments for children across Georgia, especially during the earliest years of development, when emotional foundations are formed.
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