Keeping the Family In Mind: A briefing on young carers whose parents have mental health problems (U.K.)

Barnardo’s 2008 ‘Keeping the Family in Mind’ document is a development project which has grown out of Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Project in Liverpool. One of its objectives is to increase awareness and understanding of the effects of adult mental illness upon the whole family, especially children.

A young carer may have to provide emotional as well as practical support for their mentally unwell parent, resulting in isolation, educational difficulties, stigma and bullying. This report provides case studies of children who were supported by Barnardo’s specialist young carers projects. It highlights the need for statutory mental health services to collect information on the parenting responsibilities of adults, in order to inform future service developments.