Robert Goodman, a pioneering child psychiatrist known for his innovative mental health screening tool, has passed away at the age of 72. His remarkable one-page Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which has been translated into an impressive 89 languages, is utilized globally. This tool was notably employed by the Office of National Statistics in the UK for assessing childhood mental disorders and remains a foundational requirement for local councils when evaluating young individuals in foster care.
Professor Goodman held a prominent position as the professor of brain and behavioral medicine at King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, and he was a dedicated child psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital. Between 1996 and 1997, he spent what he referred to as an "unglamorous" year refining a standard assessment method designed to provide critical support for children everywhere, irrespective of their geographical location.
However, Goodman was also cautious about labeling the typical challenges of childhood as mental health disorders. In a thought-provoking article published in the British Medical Journal in 1997, he raised eyebrows by suggesting that disturbances in behavior labeled as conduct disorder could simply be seen as signs of being "naughty, awkward, disruptive, aggressive, and anti-social." He questioned why these characteristics deserved recognition as a psychiatric condition rather than being viewed as part of normal childhood behavior, similar to issues like lovesickness or stinginess.
Later, he elaborated on this perspective in an interview with the Daily Mail, explaining that a child's disruptive behavior might stem from learning difficulties or domestic issues, suggesting that sometimes these problems are moral in nature and might have previously been addressed by community figures like police officers and clergy.
Goodman's views shifted significantly after he conducted extensive national surveys investigating children's mental health across Britain. In the year 2000, he led a groundbreaking study—the most comprehensive exploration of adolescent mental health to date—that included over 10,000 direct interviews with parents of children aged five to 15 years, along with 4,500 interviews with young people aged 11 to 15 and teacher questionnaires. His findings revealed that approximately one in ten British children did indeed have a mental disorder, categorized into conduct, emotional, or hyperkinetic disorders, even under the most stringent diagnostic criteria. He noted, "It’s a very serious problem; you can’t find physical disorders that are that common."
Five years later, another survey of 8,000 young children across England, Scotland, and Wales showed a similar prevalence of mental health issues. Interestingly, Goodman interpreted this consistency as a sign of stability, stating, "It looks as though things are stabilising."
In the mid-2000s, Goodman took a significant personal financial step by investing over £100,000 in creating Youth In Mind, the UK's first national directory of mental health services accessible to the public. His goal was to address the shocking inadequacy of these services in reaching the children who needed them most.
Standing at an impressive height of 6 feet 6 inches, Goodman was known for his shyness, yet he displayed a unique ability to connect with children. In social situations, he often requested that his wife pretend he was on an academic trip to Brazil to avoid attending parties. Nevertheless, he was unafraid to make bold statements when necessary. For instance, upon being appointed professor at King's, he delivered an inaugural lecture titled "Cultivating doubt (or how to lose friends and irritate people)" with half of his hair dyed pink and the other half blue, challenging his audience to question his expertise.
Born on November 15, 1953, in North London, he was the elder sibling in his family. His father, Jack Goodman, came from a large Jewish family in the East End, where he grew up speaking Yiddish. Though he had aspirations to study law, he found success in the textile industry. Jack and his wife Barbara, née Goldberg, were socially active and established the Kendal Hall Country Club for Jewish members in Edgware, but Robert preferred quieter pursuits, such as observing newts in nature.
Goodman attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s School in Elstree, where he won a scholarship to study medicine at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. There, he formed a close friendship with future Nobel Laureate Sir Peter Ratcliffe, who recalled Goodman as exceptionally intelligent. Despite suggestions from some faculty that he should focus less on academics and more on sports, Goodman graduated with the highest honors in physiology.
He completed his clinical training at Oxford, again achieving top marks, before returning to Cambridge for a two-year Bye-Fellowship. During this time, he realized that his true passion lay not in research but in pediatric medicine, leading him to specialize in hemiplegia and co-found the charity HemiHelp.
In 1997, Goodman and his colleague Sir Stephen Scott published a textbook that became the standard reference in child psychiatry, ensuring it was available for free download worldwide.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to child and adolescent mental health, Goodman received the prestigious Michael Rutter Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in 2022.
His interests extended beyond psychiatry; Goodman was passionate about Buddhism, environmental issues, gardening, and classical music. Inspired by the global adoption of the SDQ, he even taught himself ten European languages, including Anglo-Saxon, using Harry Potter books as study aids.
In 1981, he married Susan Lightbody, a psychotherapist he met during his time at Oxford, and together they raised a son and two daughters. Robert Goodman will be remembered for his profound impact on child mental health and his commitment to improving the lives of countless children.
