Family Relations and Children’s/Young People’s Mental Health: The Impact of Separation from the Birth Family

Mental health is a key public health issue, due to the rising global mental illness pandemic. Many mental illnesses present in adults commenced before the age of 14, as such childhood and adolescence are important times in terms of securing the foundations for positive mental health and well-being. Yet, many children experience difficult and troubled childhoods, through exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can lead to separation of the child from their family and carers which, in turn, can negatively impact on their attachment development which can have lifelong implications. Attachment theory can be used to understand these implications and therefore the importance of ensuring that children and young people are enabled to develop strong and secure attachments to promote their mental health and well-being.