ABSTRACT
A clear story emerges that intervention as early in life as possible stands the best chance of influencing long-term vulnerability. We know much more now about those children most likely to have enduring problems, and can in theory target help where it should make most difference. This chapter aims to evaluate the evidence that we can do those two things: identify and recruit to preventive programmes children or young people known to be most vulnerable to mental ill-health in adult life; and provide an intervention focused on changing a salient factor known to be part of the explanation for their vulnerability that works.
