Health visitors' role in family mental health

Evidence and current mental health policy point to the importance of promoting mental health in families and to the role of the health visitor in this work. Health visitors are key practitioners in the mental and emotional well-being of families of young children. Their remit needs to extend beyond postnatal depression to holistic assessments of child and family mental health and interventions where necessary. This work is likely to benefit the longer-term health of the children and other family members and reduce their future demands on health and social services. The importance of this preventive work must be brought to the attention of health commissioners, especially during the present cutbacks in the health visiting service.