ABSTRACT
Perhaps in their day work, whether with disturbed children, disturbed adults, or disturbed families, clinicians have of necessity to view causal processes backwards, from the disturbance of today back to the events and conditions of yesterday. In the aftermath of the Second World War, John Bowlby was ideally placed to study the effects on children of separation from their mothers when he was commissioned by the World Health Organisation to conduct a study of the mental health aspects of the needs of homeless children. There are many examples of the role played by inadequate housing provision on the living standards and emotional health of populations. Housing conditions also raised questions about the immigrants’ sense of belonging and community. Thus, for many Afro-Caribbean families, inadequate child-care provision deepened the stress of settling and surviving in the UK. The caring professions also have a responsibility to help families make and maintain secure attachments.
