ABSTRACT
An integrative ecology describes complex interactions. This will provide a theoretical basis for understanding interpersonal relationships and the genesis of mental health problems. It is relevant to the interfaces between children and their parents because it is useful for formulating health policy, developing child and adolescent mental health services and designing treatment programmes. Former developments in biology, psychology, psychiatry and sociology led to a separation of child and adult mental health through the very nature of the analytic paradigm that was employed. The new paradigm sees connections at many levels in the complex interrelationships between child development and adult mental health. An integrative ecology synthesises developmental, systemic and holistic constructs. We therefore need to consider the contribution of developmental, systemic and holistic theories which interlink in this ecological model.
