How can I help my children? A guide to parents who have mental problems

Tytti Solantaus, Finland

Related to Anxiety, Eating and body image, Parental mental illness, Temperament, behaviour, attention and conduct difficulties

Read Book

This booklet was written in Finland and translated into English for parents who experience mental illness. It answers questions that parents often have regarding the impact of their mental illness on their children, offers advice about helping their children and parenting when mental illness is part of family life.

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Short article

Parental mental health and parenting: How are they related?

Catherine Wade

Estimates of the prevalence of parental mental illness vary, but Australian research has found that up to one in four children are being raised by a parent with mental illness. Using data from the Parenting Today in Victoria study, this article explores how a parent's mental health relates to their parenting, finding that while parents with poor mental health are somewhat less likely to use positive parenting strategies, parental mental ill-health does not necessarily lead to poor parenting. With the right support at the right time, parents can help their children thrive.
Website

Parental mental illness: the impact on children and adolescents

The Royal College of Psychiatrists , UK

'This is one in a series of leaflets for parents, teachers and young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up. This leaflet provides information on the problems encountered by children who have a parent with a mental illness, and gives some practical advice as to how to deal with these problems.'
Short article

Supporting parents who have poor mental health

Catherine Wade

Despite the importance of parental mental health, many parents can’t or don’t have access to supports to help them navigate the rough waters of mental illness. This short article discusses the 2016 Parenting Today in Victoria study by the Parenting Research Centre which provides insights into the support needs of Victorian parents.
Short article

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

Melissa Willoughby and Joanna Schwarzman, Australian Institute of Family Studies

This short article describes the research evidence on individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This September 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Emerging Minds

This practice paper aims to equip practitioners with knowledge about the ways disasters can influence a child’s ecology and the importance of targeted support for children’s resilience and recovery in the short and long term.
Practice paper

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

Emerging Minds

This practice paper explains why it’s important to consider pregnant people, infants, children and families in evacuation planning and management. It provides practical considerations and strategies for ensuring evacuation procedures and centres meet the needs of infants, children and families and enhance their safety, wellbeing and recovery.
Practice paper

How psychological first aid can support infants, children and families who experience a disaster (part one)

Emerging Minds

This paper is the first of two and introduces psychological first aid (PFA), a psychosocial support approach that can reduce distress and support the mental health of infants, children and families who have experienced a disaster.
Practice paper

Psychological first aid with infants and children: Practice guidance (part two)

Emerging Minds

Part two of two: This paper provides guidance to practitioners offering psychological first aid with infants, children and families in the context of a disaster.
Practice paper

Wellbeing for workers supporting children and families after a disaster

Emerging Minds

This resource focuses on how to look after your own wellbeing as a practitioner or worker when supporting children and families after a disaster.
Practice paper

Practices for supporting infant and child mental health after disasters

Emerging Minds

This paper provides practice guidance for addressing the immediate and long-term impacts of disasters on infant and child mental health using multifaceted approaches that promote resilience and mental health recovery.
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Child–adult relationships

Emerging Minds

Following a disaster it's common for children to experience increased separation anxiety. This resources explores how parents can help children to develop safe relationships with other caring adults.

How can I help my children? A guide to parents who have mental problems

Tytti Solantaus, Finland

Discover more resources

Parental mental health and parenting: How are they related?

Parental mental illness: the impact on children and adolescents

Supporting parents who have poor mental health

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Understanding how disasters influence infants and children

Supporting infants, children and families in an evacuation

How psychological first aid can support infants, children and families who experience a disaster (part one)

Psychological first aid with infants and children: Practice guidance (part two)

Wellbeing for workers supporting children and families after a disaster

Practices for supporting infant and child mental health after disasters

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Child–adult relationships

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