Infant Mental Health: Approaches Based on General Comment No. 7 of the CRC and a Human Rights-Based Health Framework

Abstract

This article explores infant mental health from a human rights perspective, highlighting General Comment No. 7 of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as a key legal framework. It recognizes newborns as full rights-holders from birth and emphasizes the urgent need to integrate perinatal mental health into public policies and healthcare systems. Emotional well-being in early life is deeply linked to a secure affective environment, early caregiver bonding, and sensitive responses to emotional needs. Despite scientific and legal advances, mental health care for babies remains insufficient and underprioritized, particularly in countries like Spain.

The article critiques practices that infringe upon newborn rights—such as early mother-infant separation and obstetric violence—and calls for structural reforms centered on the mother-infant dyad. It advocates for specialized professional training, extended parental leave, strengthened perinatal services, and coordinated intersectoral policies. The piece also discusses recent opportunities, including Spain’s 2025–2027 Mental Health Action Plan and the expansion of perinatal mental health units.

Ultimately, the authors argue that ensuring mental health from birth is not merely a health concern but a legal and ethical imperative. The effective application of General Comment No. 7 can reshape healthcare systems to promote emotional development from the very beginning of life.