The role of archives in the perception of self

A sense of belonging and a sense of place are two important components of a person's sound mental health. Some people embarking on family research may only be looking for a leisure activity but many others are compelled by a strong need to make sense of a disrupted life. Archivists, in any kind of repository, may well find themselves as the first point of contact dealing with individuals affected, even damaged to some degree, by their historic circumstances. The objectives of this article are to seek to dispel the idea that family history is purely a leisure pursuit, to show the necessity for an improved interaction between health professionals and archivists, and to indicate areas requiring development within the archive profession.