Parents with a mental illness

Parents and carers have skills, strengths and supports they use to help children thrive. But, if you experience mental health difficulties it can sometimes be challenging to draw on these capabilities. Australian research has found that up to one in four children are being raised by a parent with mental illness.¹ The resources in this section are designed to provide practical strategies and support for parents, carers and families and most importantly, help build strong relationships, resilience and a solid foundation of support in which families can grow.

Select one of our topic areas:

When your parent has a mental illness

This information is for children and young people where their parent or carer experiences mental illness.
Talking to your child about your mental illness

Talking to children of all ages including conversation starters.
Supporting parents living with mental illness

Information for family and friends in supporting those they care about living with mental illness.
Parenting with mental health difficulties

Keeping families strong as you navigate mental illness.

View all resources

1. Maybery, D., Goodyear, M., Reupert, A., Sheen, J., Cann, W., O’Hanlon, B., & Cuff, R. (2019). A mixed method evaluation of an intervention for parents with mental illness. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24(4), 717-727.

Parents with a mental illness

Select one of our topic areas:

When your parent has a mental illness

Talking to your child about your mental illness

Supporting parents living with mental illness

Parenting with mental health difficulties

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