There have been significant advances in the antenatal and neonatal care of preterm infants with increased survival of the most vulnerable extremely low birth weight infants. Preterm birth remains however a leading cause of morbidity and children born extremely preterm are at increased risk of significant disability and neurodevelopmental disorders. Increasingly the recognition of significant psychiatric and more subtle yet impairing social-emotional difficulties has been the focus of longitudinal studies. So too has the impact of preterm birth on parental mental health. Despite significant advances in neonatal intensive care practices, mental health and psychosocial supports for preterm infants and their parents can be lacking both in terms of early interventions and long term follow-up. This symposium discusses the results of two studies which explore the long term outcomes in terms of mental health and attachment of preterm infants in Ireland, an evaluation of an early intervention using video interaction guidance to support parents of preterm infants and the perceptions of NICU staff regarding attachment and social-emotional needs of preterm infants.