Mental health problems of clinical
severity affect up to 20 % of all children aged 5 — 15 years in Great Britain, 1 and these are now the commonest cause of severe disability in childhood.2 Mental health promotion is a priority for public health in the UK.3 The importance of parenting as a risk factor for mental
illness, both in childhood4, 5 and in adulthood is well recognised.6, 7