Sorry I posted this too late, long after the discussion moved on.
EllenVannin I respect your experience but disagree with your points of view. So far as there being more children with psychiatric problems the reality is, we know more about children's m.h.
So far as ADHD goes, its a developmental disorder and has always existed. Schools, parents, GP, social workers, health visitors, CAMHS etc are now much more aware and well educated in assessing and treating developmental disorders.
ADHD can present in a similar way to an attachment disorder. That led to many parents being blamed as poor parents.
Historically, many children were shipped off to boarding schools. I don't mean the wealthy families who still do that, but working class children. Most towns had a residential school, often said to be for children with asthma or similar but in reality were places that children who would now be said to be neglected were sent. A friend of mine went to our local school for vulnerable children, along with her five siblings. Her mum died, dad couldn't cope so that was the solution.
Many "naughty boys" who were sent off to huge institutions for well, naughty boys. They came home for the school holidays, often created mayhem, their parents still couldn't manage them, eventually many of them went to Approved Schools for young offenders. Their backgrounds were neglect, physical abuse (or the thick ear) , parents with m.h/drink problems and the budget was available for residential education. We now know without doubt that any abuse those children experienced at home was exceeded in those institutions.
It's often said that things were better in the 50's, when a thick ear solved everything. Except that just isn't true.